The Revolution begins again!

How can the Rated R Superstar overthrow The Maniac’s reign of terror? With a Revolution, of course! But can Cope become AEW World Champion? Or will Jon Moxley break his body and spirit?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Zero Hour – Holo.grm & Komander w/ Alex Abrahantes VS Blake Christian & Lee Johnson; Hologram & Komander win.
• Zero Hour – 8 Man Tag: Daniel Garcia & The Undisputed Kingdom VS Shane Taylor Promotions; Garcia & The Kingdom win.
• Zero Hour – ROH World Championship: Chris Jericho VS Gravity; No Contest.
• Zero Hour – Six Man Tag: Orange Cassidy, Mark Briscoe & Big Boom AJ w/ Big Justice VS Johnny TV & MXM Collection; Cassidy, Briscoe & AJ win.
• Hangman Page VS MJF; Hangman wins.
• AEW TBS Championship: Mercedes Mone VS Momo Watanabe; Mone wins and retains the title.
• AEW World Championship #1 Contender’s Match: Swerve Strickland w/ Prince Nana VS Ricochet; Swerve wins and will challenge for the title.
• AEW Continental Championship: Kazuchika Okada VS Brody King; Okada wins and retains the title.
• AEW World Tag Team Championships: Bobby Lashley & Shelton Benjamin w/ MVP VS The Outrunners; Lashley & Shelton win and retain the titles.
• AEW Women’s World Championship, The Hollywood Ending: Toni Storm VS Mariah May; Toni wins and retains the title.
• AEW International Championship: Konosuke Takeshita w/ Don Callis VS Kenny Omega; Omega wins and becomes the new AEW International Champion.
• Steel Cage Match: Will Ospreay VS Kyle Fletcher; Ospreay wins.
• AEW World Championship: Jon Moxley VS Adam Copeland; changed to…
• Casino Gauntlet Contract Cash-In, AEW World Championship Triple Threat: Jon Moxley VS Adam Copeland VS Christian Cage; Moxley wins and retains the title.

PLAY BY PLAY

It is the Revolution Zero Hour!

Join Renee Paquette, RJ City, Jeff Jarrett and special guest, Paul Walter-Hauser, discuss, analyze and predict the revolutionary action here in Los Angeles!

 

Zero Hour – Holo.grm & Komander w/ Alex Abrahantes VS Blake Christian & Lee Johnson!

While the Super Amigos have been beefing with La Faccion Ingobernable, they are looking to tune up their teamwork. Will Hologram be undefeated even in tag team action? Or will he and Komander be put on ice by the Vanilla Baby and Big Shotty?

The teams sort out, but Blake & Lee just attack! The fans boo, the bell rings, but Lee TOSSES Komander out. Blake bumps Hologram off buckles, then whips him corner to corner. Hologram goes up and over, handsprings, but Lee catches him! Blake runs up, Hologram dodges and Blake ROCKS Lee! Blake panics, Hologram kicks off Lee to go up and over Blake! Then he gets them for an INVERTED SUPLEX DDT COMBO! The fans fire up and Komander is back. Hologram gives him the boost to RANA Blake out of the ring! LA fires up for Hologram & Komander, they build speed and DOUBLE DIVE! Direct hits at the ramp and the fans fire up more!

Hologram gets Lee up and into the ring, then drags him over to the corner. Tag to Komander, the luchadores double whip and mule kick, leg sweep, then handspring to STOMP the hands! They run to then DOUBLE GIRI COMBO! Cover, TWO! Komander keeps Lee from Blake and eggs him on. The fans rally for “LUCHA LIBRE!” as Komander facelocks. Lee fights up, Komander powers him to a corner, then he whips corner to corner. Komander runs to LARIAT, then he snapmares and basement DROPKICKS! The fans fire up while Komander drags Lee up. Komander facelocks Lee, but Lee fights up.

Komander whips, Lee grabs ropes and Blake sneaks a tag. Lee FLAPJACKS Komander onto ropes, and Blake FROG SPLASHES Komander off the ropes! The fans boo but Blake drags Komander up and into the ring. Blake pushes Komander to then step on him, and Lee says, “Too easy!” The fans boo but Blake stomps Komander. Blake mocks the fans with applause but the fans rally up. Blake tags Lee, they double whip Komander, and DOUBLE LARIAT! Lee then drops an ELBOW, and a cocky cover, TWO! Komander is still in this but Lee says it is still too easy. Lee drags Komander around, stomps him, then drags him up.

Lee bumps Komander off buckles, tags Blake, and Blake puts Komander on ropes. Blake CLAWS Komander’s face and the mask, but the ref counts. Blake stops to then DECK Komander! Blake keeps Komander from Hologram but the fans tell him off. Blake whips, Komander grabs ropes, and Komander BOOTS back! Komander TOSSES Blake out, but Blake GAMANGIRIS! Blake springboards, Komander gets under, but Blake handsprings through! Only for Komander to DROPKICK him in the back! Blake tumbles out, but Lee grabs Komander’s leg! Komander ENZIGIRIS free, hot tag to HOlogram!

LA fires up as Hologram SOBATS, KNEES, and CHOPS Lee! Hologram whips, Lee reverses then hurdles, but Hologram handsprings! Lee dodges but the LEG SWEEP hits! Hologram handsprings up, but Lee ducks the buzzsaw! Lee shoves, follows, but Hologram SPANISH FLIES! Blake is back to half nelson! Hologram ROUNDHOUSES first! Hologram then runs to ROCK Blake in the corner! Hologram puts Blake up top, goes outside before climbing up, but Lee SHOVES Hologram down! The fans boo but Lee tags in and builds speed! Lee FLIES, direct hit on Hologram! Lee puts Hologram back in, Blake hits a 450 SPLASH!

Blake keeps moving, and he DIVES to take out Komander! Lee FROG SPLASHES, covers, TWO! Hologram survives and the fans fire up! Lee is frustrated, but he goes to the apron with Hologram. Hologram fights the suplex, fires body shots, then ROCKS Lee! Blake sneaks up behind Hologram, but Hologram fires elbows! Hologram then slips around, to APRON POISON-RANA! Not the cleanest but then Lee gets Hologram! Fireman’s carry, DEATH VALLEY DRIVER on the apron! Komander goes up to FLYING RANA Lee to the floor! The fans are thunderous, but then Blake DAREDEVIL DIVES through a corner! Direct hit and into the railing!

All four men are down on the outside and the fans fire up! Abrahantes coaches his amigos and Komander goes to his corner. The ring count is 5 of 10 before Hologram puts Lee in. Blake hurries to sneak a tag, and then Hologram tags Komander. Komander aims at Lee from the top rope, but Blake gets Lee out of there! The Cielito Lindo belly flops, and Blake slingshots to CUTTER! VANILLA CHOKE ZERO!! But Hologram is up top! DIVING DOUBLE STOMPS on Blake! Hologram tags back in, the fans fire back up, and Hologram fireman’s carries. Blake flails, Lee runs up, but Blake is used to SMACK Lee! Komander goes up and over, FLYING DESTROYER!!

Hologram SLAMS Blake down, goes up top, and the fans fire up as Komander goes up, up and AWAY! Down goes Lee, then Hologram 450 SPLASHES Blake! Cover, los luchadores win!

Winners: Hologram & Komander, by pinfall

If this was them turning up their teamwork, then imagine when they’re 100% efficient! Will Hologram y Komander soon humble LFI?

 

Zero Hour – 8 Man Tag: Daniel Garcia & The Undisputed Kingdom VS Shane Taylor Promotions!

After going back and forth against each other, Red Death is teaming up with Adam Cole, Roderick Strong & Kyle O’Reilly to take on the full force of STP! Will Garcia and the Kingdom settle things with Shane, Shawn Dean, Carlie Bravo & Lee Moriarty once and for all? Or will tonight be anything but undisputed?

The teams sort out and Roddy starts against Carlie. They circle, feel things out, then tie up. Roddy wrenches, hammerlocks, but Carlie works on an escape. Roddy keeps him from ropes, but Carlie goes to the other side. ROPEBREAK, Roddy puts on the pressure but lets off at 4. Carlie gets mad, but Roddy CHOPS him! And CHOPS! CHOPS! Roddy shoves Carlie to a corner, tags Kyle in, and they KICK and CHOP on repeat! Dean runs up but he get a KNEE and a CHOP! Kyle & Roddy then DOUBLE SUPLEX Carlie! Cover, TWO! Kyle rains down palm strikes from all sides, then he has the ARMBAR!

Carlie scrambles, reaches out, ROPEBREAK! Kyle lets go, he stomps Carlie, then he tags Cole. The fans cheer as Cole brings Carlie up for a HANGING NECKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! Cole drags Carlie up to bump off buckles. Cole climbs up to rain down fists! The fans count all the way to nine, then Cole winds up, “ADAM COLE, BAYBAY!” TEN! Garcia applauds, then Cole tags him in. Garcia brings Carlie up, but Carlie ROCKS Garcia! Tag to Lee, but Garcia CLOBBERS him! Garcia whips Lee to a corner, runs up, but Lee BOOTS Garcia away! Lee suplexes, but Garcia fights that to TWIST ‘N’ SHOUT! Cover, TWO!

Garcia keeps Lee down by hooking up the legs. Garcia puts up the dukes, the fans cheer, and Garcia does his dance, before he STOMPS the knees! Garcia whips Lee, Lee reverses, and Shane is there! Garcia stops himself, but Lee GAMANGIRIS! STP BLASTS the Kingdom off their corner, then Shane gets on the tracks! The TAYLOR EXPRESS runs over Cole, Kyle and Roddy! We spot up in the skybox, it’s The Opps! The Infantry mugs Garcia, but he gets around to SAIDO Carlie! And SAIDO for Dean! SAIDO for Lee! Shane storms in and the fans fire up. Garcia fires up, he bobs ‘n’ weaves, but Shane’s too big to lift!

STP mugs Garcia while the fans boo. Carlie RAMS Garcia into the corner, he and Dean mug Garcia more! The ref counts, Carlie tags Dean, Dean sends Carlie in for a forearm SMASH! Then “PSYCHE!” Carlie hits another forearm! Dean hits an ELBOW, then a BACKBREAKER! Carlie adds the KNEE DROP! Cover, ONE!! Garcia is tougher than that, but Carlie CHOKES him on the ropes! Tag to Lee, and Lee drags Garcia up to RAM him into the corner! Lee stomps a mudhole in, gets some mule kicks in, then he taunts Cole with “TAIGA STYLE, BAYBAY!” Garcia fires back on Lee, but Lee DECKS Garcia!

Lee tags Carlie, Carlie brings Garcia up, but Garcia fires body shots. Carlie shoves Garcia, but Dean trips him! Dean has Garcia on the apron to SLAM him! Carlie hits a GUILLOTINE KNEE, Shane adds a GUILLOTINE LEG DROP! The fans boo but STP gets away with all of that. Carlie puts Garcia back in, Shane tags in, and he drags Garcia up. Shane puts Garcia in a corner, but Garcia fires haymakers! Shane BODY BLOWS, then he CHOPS! Dean says that’s a man right there! Shane taunts The Kingdom, but Garcia fires hands! Garcia runs, but Shane catches him! Shane throws Garcia back to DECK him! Carlie says Garcia got knocked the F out!

Shane talks more trash on The Kingdom, then he drags Garcia up. The fans rally, Shane taunts The Kingdom, but Garcia lifts Shane?! SAIDO!! The fans are fired up now as Garcia crawls for the corner! Hot tag to Kyle! Kyle BOOTS Carlie, tags Roddy, and Roddy clinches Dean! HALF NELSON BACKBREAKER! Tag to Cole and he SUPERKICKS Shane! Shane staggers, Kyle & Roddy LARIAT him up and out! Cole dodges Lee, LARIATS him, then ELBOWS him, then BOOTS him! Roddy WRECKS Dean with a dropkick! Kyle FLYING KNEES Carlie! Cole suplexes Lee, GHOSTBUSTER! Cover, TWO! Lee survives and Cole is surprised.

The fans rally up as Cole waits on Lee. Lee rises, Cole waistlocks, but Lee switches. Cole breaks free to PELE! Cole fireman’s carries Lee, USHIGOROSHI! Cover, TWO! Lee survives again but Cole stays focused. Cole goes up the corner, the fans fire up, and Lee rises. Garcia tags himself in!? Garcia trips Lee and turns him over, DRAGON TAMER!! Lee endures, Kyle intercepts Cole with the AX & SMASH! Roddy gives Dean a STRONG KNEE! Shane is in, Cole SUPERKICKS him! Cole stares Garcia down while Garcia makes Lee TAP! Garcia & Undisputed Kingdom win!

Winners: Daniel Garcia & The Undisputed Kingdom, by submission

The Opps are stoic, but Garcia holds up the TNT Championship and celebrates with the fans. When and where will Garcia and Cole go another round for that title?

 

Zero Hour – ROH World Championship: Chris Jericho w/ “Big Bill” Morrissey & Bryan Keith VS Gravity!

The Learning Tree can’t seem to leave Bandido alone, so the Astronaut of Lucha is looking to settle things on his behalf! Will Gravity finally bring down The Nueve? Or will Jericho make this a teachable moment?

The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see who shines in the City of Stars!

The Code of honor is NOT upheld as Jericho CRACKS Gravity with Floyd the Baseball Bat! Jericho, Bill & Keith all mug Gravity, the ref calls this match off entirely! The fans boo as Jericho couldn’t even give Gravity a fair fight for two seconds! But then here comes Bandido! He rushes in to save his brother! He DECKS Keith, DECKS Jericho, rains down fists on Jericho, but Bill BOOTS Bandido down! Bill goes after Gravity while Keith stomps Bandido! SKYSCRAPER CHOKE SLAM for Gravity! Jericho CRACKS Bandido with the bat now! The fans boo more, but the beating continues! Bandido & Gravity are helpless as their mother and sister watch from the crowd!

Jericho winds up as Bill & Keith drag Bandido & Gravity up. Bandido says no, Jericho wants him, not Gravity! Jericho SLAPS Gravity again and again, then he YANKS the mask away!!! The fans boo, that is even worse than hurting the man! Jericho BOOTS Gravity down, then CRACKS him with the bad again and again! Jericho JAMS Bandido up, then tells him to watch this! Keith BOOTS Gravity, and then JUDAS EFFECT! Bandido is finally let go, he goes to cover his brother’s face, and now their mother and sister are allowed to ringside. The fans boo, but now Jericho aims his bat at the family!?

The fans boo, but Jericho says Bandido needs to learn! Bandido begs for mercy, as do the mother and sister! Jericho says this is what happens! And he BOOTS Bandido right down! Jericho takes the mask of Gravity as his trophy, Keith shouts, “RESPECT CHRIS JERICHO!” The fans tell Jericho off, but he flips them off in return. Will no one ever stop The Learning Tree’s reign of terror?

 

Zero Hour – Six Man Tag: Orange Cassidy, Mark Briscoe & Big Boom AJ w/ Big Justice VS Johnny TV & MXM Collection!

Freshly Squeezed & The Sussex County Chicken heard the Costco Guys needed amigos to fight The Guru of Greatness, The Sultan of Suave & The Mahogany Hunk, so it is time to conglomerate! Will Cassidy, Briscoe & AJ bring THE BOOM to Los Angeles? Or is it going to be DOOM against #MXMTV?

The teams sort out and Cassidy starts against Johnny. Cassidy and Johnny step up, Johnny swings strikes but Cassidy bobs ‘n’ weaves. Johnny does a spinarooni to make up for missing a kick, but then Cassidy spins to put his hands, IN HIS POCKETS! The fans fire up and Cassidy ducks ‘n’ dodges. Cassidy leaps over Johnny’s back, ducks the Flying Chuck, then SHOTGUNS! Cassidy then puts on his sunglasses! Tag to Briscoe, they double whip, and Briscoe COBBERS Johnny! Briscoe ROCKS Johnny, stomps him in the corner, then climbs up. The fans cheer, Briscoe rains down fists, and goes all the way to TEN!

The fans fire up, and Briscoe tags in AJ! AJ climbs up, and he gives us a rain of “BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!” All the way to TEN! Ten booms is unheard of! Cassidy tags in, and he fires up, to rain down ONE! The fans are all fired up and Cassidy covers, TWO! Johnny is tougher than that, but Cassidy powers up the arm! Johnny hurries to tag in Mason! The fans are torn as Mason Madden stares Cassidy down. Mason taunts Cassidy, Cassidy gets face to pecs with him! Cassidy says hold on. The fans fire up as Cassidy points to AJ. Cassidy says okay, but then Mansoor CLOBBERS Cassidy! The fans boo but MXM TOSSES Cassidy!

MXM clap and the fans rally up. MXM then run, build speed, and POSE! The fans do cheer that, but then Cassidy joins in! Thumbs up! MXM is upset, but Cassidy dodges them and “dives” out at Johnny. Cassidy sits with Big Justice & Rizzler for some double chocolate chunk cookies! Mansoor rushes out, Cassidy runs back in, but Mansoor SNATCHES and THROWS the cookies!! How dare he!! But then Cassidy DIVES and Mansoor hits the desk! Cassidy makes Mansoor EAT the cookie!! Mansoor spits in disgust, he hasn’t had chocolate in decades! Cassidy dodges Mason, bumps him off buckles, then ELBOWS Johnny!

Cassidy goes up, Taya sneaks up and YANKS him down! Orange lands on his grapes, but then Mason hits a BIG BOSS MAN SLAM! Cover, TWO! Mason rains down fists, the fans rally up, and Mason TOSSES Cassidy to the corner. Tag to Mansoor, and Mason sends him in for a LARIAT! Then an ELBOW from Mason! Feed to the atomic drop, and then a dropkick to legs! HIP ATTACK from Mason! Then MXM CHOKE Cassidy on the ropes while Mr. & Mrs. TV make out! Yikes… Mansoor drags Cassidy up, tags Johnny, and they mug Cassidy. Johnny then clamps onto Cassidy with a COBRA TWIST! The fans rally while Cassidy endures.

Cassidy fights, reaches out, and he powers free of the hold! Cassidy HIP TOSSES Johnny, but Johnny sucker punches AJ! Briscoe ROCKS Johnny in return! Johnny still catches Cassidy, but Cassidy sunset flips !Johnny rolls through, he sunset flips, but Cassidy stays up! Cassidy stomps closer to his corner, then he just pulls free to tag Briscoe! Briscoe rallies with forearms and CHOPS on Mansoor and Johnny! Mansoor waistlocks, Briscoe BOOTS Johnny and PELES Mansoor! The fans fire up but Johnny CLUBS Briscoe! Johnny whips, Briscoe DROPKICKS Mason with it! Briscoe then ELBOWS Johnny, TOSSES him out, and runs to WRECK Johnny!

Briscoe hits a BLOCKBUSTER on Mansoor to the floor! The fans fire up and Briscoe high-fives the Big Boom family. Briscoe puts Johnny in, but Taya distracts the ref! Mason SUPER CHOKE SLAMS Briscoe! Johnny puts Briscoe in the drop zone, for STARSHIP SUPER STATION! Cover, TWO!! Rizzler & Justice cheer, but Johnny argues the count. The count was fair, so Johnny puts Briscoe up top. Johnny climbs up, Briscoe fights him off! Briscoe SHOVES Johnny down, then leaps, MISSILE DROPKICK! Both men are down and the fans fire up! Hot tags to AJ and Mason! AJ fires off “BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!” on Mason!

AJ has BOOM for Mansoor, BOOM for Johnny, and BOOM for Mason! The fans fire up as AJ LARIATS in a corner! Then he DECKS Mansoor! AJ sends Mansoor into Mason, then winds up to DOUBLE LARIAT! Johnny is back, but AJ ROCKS him! AJ sends Johnny into MXM! AJ gives MXM TV a TRIPLE LARIAT!! Then a whip corner to corner, for the BACKDROP! Johnny flounders away, Mansoor leaps, but AJ catches him! BELLY2BELLY! The fans fire up with AJ, but Mason is up! Mason grabs AJ by the neck! Mason says the boom dies tonight! AJ is fading, the ref reprimands about choking, but Mason says it is a guzel!

Wait! AJ gets a second wind! AJ rises, and he breaks free of the grip! AJ ROCKS Mason, scoops him, and we get the POWERSLAM! Cover, TWO!! Mason survives, but AJ says c’mon! Rizzler & Justice cheer on Big Boom AJ as he powers up! Mason staggers into a kick, but Taya distracts AJ! Mansoor CHOP BLOCKS AJ, and Johnny gives him a FLYING CHUCK! And then he and Taya make out again… The fans boo, but wait! HARLEY CAMERON is here! She YANKS Taya down, then THROWS her into the railing! FEEL THE WRATH~! And AJ gets Johnny for the BIG BOOM BOMB!! Mansoor SUPERKICKS AJ!

Mansoor says BOOM~ and then laughs. Mansoor storms up on AJ, climbs up, but Cassidy distracts the ref. Justice gets under Mansoor?! JUSTICE BOMB!! The fans fire up as Justice saves his dad! They HUG!! The fans say you GOT to give the people what they want! But Mason is back! Mason lines up a shot, LEG LARIAT on AJ! Justice doesn’t realize it, and then he turns around to see Mason! The ref says don’t do it! Briscoe REDNECK KUNG-FU UPPERCUTS Mason! ORANGE PUNCH from Cassidy! And then, a TRIPLE CHUNK POWER BOOM!! Cover, AJ and team win!

Winners: Orange Cassidy, Mark Briscoe & Big Boom AJ, by pinfall

Now that was a conglomeration! They brought the boom and Johnny’s team felt the wrath! Wait, wait, wait, the Don Callis Family is here… They did agree to a cooperation, so Mansoor wants Brian Cage, Lance Archer & Mark Davis to get ’em! But hold on! Here comes POWERHOUSE HOBBS!! Hobbs storms in and dares everyone to come get it! Mason staggers into a SPINEBUSTER! The fans cheer, and now Adam Devine and Tony Cavalero get in!? They help out by giving Mansoor a DOUBLE CHOKE SLAM! These Righteous Gemstones join in, this crossover only possible here in Hollywood!

 

Hangman Page VS MJF!

Knowing these two aren’t going to hold back, they might as well start off the main show! These two have hated a lot of people in AEW, but they perhaps hate each other most of all! What won’t happen as these The Cowboy fights The Devil in the City of Angels?

Hangman’s classic theme plays, but then wait, it’s just MJF trolling everyone. Then Hangman actually makes his entrance, and LA is ready for some #CowboySh*t! The ref has MJF and Hangman back up to corners, then the bell rings. MJF and Hangman then fire off fast hands! The fans fire up as the shots go back and forth! They cheer Hangman, boo MJF, the whole reason for this fight in the first place! Hangman ROCKS MJF again and again, then stomps away in the corner! The ref counts, Hangman stops at 4, but then jukes around to BOOT MJF down! The fans rally while MJF claims his nose or tooth is broken.

But then MJF uses the ref as as shield! And he pokes Hangman in the eyes! MJF runs Hangman to WRING him into buckles! MJF then soaks up the heat from the corner. MJF goes back to Hangman, and he CLAWS Hangman’s face! The ref counts, MJF stops and he clamps on a chinlock. Hangman endures but MJF drags him into the takeover. The fans rally up and Hangman fights to his feet. Hangman fires body shots, but MJF THROWS Hangman down by his hair! The fans boo but MJF just soaks it up. Hangman stands right up to clamp on a SLEEPER! MJF JAWBREAKERS free, covers, ONE!

MJF CHOKES Hangman, the ref counts, but MJF stops at 4. MJF mocks the Cowboy S*it with finger guns, then he says up yours! MJF drags Hangman up, but Hangman CHOPS! Hangman whips, MJF reverses, and MJF catches Hangman to a POWER BREAKER! Cover, TWO!! MJF snarls as Hangman survives, but the fans rally up again. MJF KNEES Hangman in the back, then mocks the clapping. MJF builds speed, just to PELVIC THRUST Hangman in the face! The fans are torn, but Hangman is definitely pissed. MJF says, “Main event character my ass! This is MY company!” Hangman stands, MJF pie faces him, but Hangman storms up.

MJF dares him to hit MJF with your best shot! Hangman ROCKS MJF, then fires a flurry! Hangman winds up, but MJF SPITS Hangman! Hangman snarls, swings, but MJF dodges! Hangman blocks a kick, but MJF pokes him in the eye! MJF soaks up the heat, takes a bow, then shouts, “MY company!” Hangman scoops MJF for a FALL AWAY SLAM! Both men are down, the fans rally up, and MJF stirs. But then Hangman kips up! The fans fire up and Hangman DECKS MJF! And DECKS him! And TOSSES him! Triangle jump- NO, MJF ducks it! MJF talks trash, but Hangman BLINDSLIDE LARIATS him!

The fans fire up and Hangman PLANCHAS MJF down! The fans fire up even more as Hangman looms over MJF. Hangman puts MJF in, takes aim from the apron, but MJF flops and bails out the side. Hangman just goes around the way, and he BOOTS MJF down! The fans fire up for Hangman as he then looks to the corner. Hangman climbs, the fans rally up, ARIHARA MOONSAULT! Down goes MJF and the fans are thunderous! Hangman drags MJF up and puts him in the ring. Hangman then paces around, takes aim, but again MJF scrambles away. Hangman is frustrated, but he runs up, only for MJF to pop him up!

MJF SUPERKICKS Hangman while he’s upside down, then he ALABAMA SLAMS him! And then the lift and package, REDEEMER DDT! Cover, TWO!! Hangman survives and both men are down. The fans rally for “A E DUB! A E DUB!” for starting this PPV off with fire! MJF rises up, “This is Awesome!” as MJF drags Hangman around. But Hangman cradle counters, TWO! MJF has it, TWO! Hangman Alabama Lifts, but MJF sunset flips through! TWO, but MJF SUPERKICKS! And then a PILE- NO, Hangman Alabama Lifts free! DEADEYE!! Cover, TWO!?! MJF survives that shot and Hangman is frustrated again.

The fans rally up, “This is Awesome!” as Hangman paces. MJF stands, Hangman runs up, but MJF TOSESS him out! And KNEES him in the ropes! MJF has Hangman for the HEAT- NO, Hangman throws him away! Slingshot, BUCKSHOT!! Cover, ROPEBREAK!! MJF survives by a literal foot! Hangman is shocked, but nothing he can do about that miscalculation. Hangman looms over MJF, drags him up, but MJF goes for the arm! Hangman doesn’t even budge as MJF yanks on the arm! MJF pulls hair, still nothing. Hangman SPITS in MJF’s face, then winds up to LARIAT! Hangman then goes to the apron and loads up again!

The fans fire up as Hangman aims. MJF slowly rises up, staggers around, but then he flops right out of the ring! MJF is slippery but now the ring count is on him. Hangman storms around the outside, lines up a different shot, and he runs up, only for MJF to move! Hangman RAMS into the steel steps! Hangman shakes that off, he gets MJF in the ring, and he takes aim again. MJF rises, Hangman slingshots, but MJF snatches the arm! FUJIWARA ARMBAR!! Hangman endures, MJF bends the fingers! Hangman endures more as The Salt of the Earth is on tight! Hangman fights up, reaches out, and crawls his way over, only for MJF to drag him back!

MJF goes for a CROSSFACE now! The fans boo but Hangman endures again. Hangman fights around, reaches out again, but MJF pulls his head back! The fans rally, but MJF kicks off ropes to roll Hangman away! INVERTED ARMBAR!! Hangman endures as MJF thrashes around! The fans continue to rally, Hangman still reaches out, and Hangman drags MJF along as he goes to the side! MJF hurries to grab that arm, too! DOUBLE ARMBAR!! Hangman still uses his legs, and he kicks his way to the ROPEBREAK!! Hangman survives by a literal foot and MJF lets go in frustration and despair! The ref checks Hangman as Hangman slips outside.

Hangman clutches his left arm, but MJF snarls and heads out after him. MJF KNEES Hangman in the side, then he takes Schiavone’s headset?! “Your hero’s a zero! He’s a nobody and you all know it! I’m the effin’ man around here!!” MJF then throws the headset down, and he CLAWS Hangman’s back! MJF pie faces Hangman, but Hangman scoops MJF! But the bad arm can’t hold on! Hangman lets MJF go, and MJF storms up after Hangman, Hangman ELBOWS MJF away, then he goes up railing! QUEBRADA into a gut wrench! But MJF fights that to his own gut wrench! And then a TOMBSTONE on a chair!!

The fans lose their minds while both men fall over! The ref checks Hangman, but also has Doc Sampson come in. Doc checks Hangman, MJF goes to the ring. The count is going, but will it matter if Hangman is injured? The count is 5 of 10 while Hangman sputters, but he’s still down at 8! Wait, he rises at 9?! AND LEAPS IN AT 9.999!! MJF is beside himself but LA is thunderous! MJF shouts, “Why you, and not me?! What’s so special about you!?” MJF keeps shouting, “Why not me?!? Why not ME?!?” MJF’s insecurity and rage boil up, and he puts Hangman in the ropes. The fans boo, but MJF hits-

NO, Hangman stops the Heatseeker, and he steps inside! DEADEYE!! But Hangman isn’t done with MJF! Hangman underhooks the arms, to ANGEL’S WINGS!!! Shoutout to Christopher Daniels, and then Hangman drags himself up with ropes. Hangman skins the cat to be on the apron, and he loads up again! MJF slowly rises, on spaghetti legs, and he takes a BUCKSHOT!! Cover, Hangman wins!!

Winner: Hangman Page, by pinfall

Give the Devil his due, he pushed The Cowboy to his limits! But with a bit of help from a Fallen Angel, Hangman wins in Los Angeles! Will this be just the thing that propels Hangman back to the top?

 

AEW TBS Championship: Mercedes Mone VS Momo Watanabe!

The CEO has been collecting gold from around the world of pro-wrestling, but because of her disrespect, the Dark Peach decided to use her International Women’s Cup title shot on Mone’s most prized possession! Will #FourBeltsMone have to downgrade to three? Or will the Money Train run right through Los Angeles?

The introductions are made, the teal belt is raised, and it’s time to see who is the Face of TBS!

The bell rings and the fans rally up as Momo and Mone circle. The two tie up, go around, and Mone puts Momo in a corner. The ref counts, Mone pie faces and then soaks up the heat as she does her dance. Momo storms up, the two tie up again, and Momo waistlocks. Mone slips down, wrenches out, and wristlocks. Momo wrenches to a wristlock in return, but Mone slips through to hammerlock. Momo fires elbows, then headlocks. Momo switches sides, but Mone powers up and out. Mone drops down, hurdles, but does her dance again. Momo kicks low, snapmares, and she runs up to scare Mone. Momo pats Mone on the head and says how cute.

Mone shoves Momo, but Momo shoves back. They shove more, then Mone headlocks. Momo powers up and out, but Mone runs her over! Mone still does her dance, but Momo storms up to KICK! And KICK! KICK! KICK! The fans cheer as Momo KICKS and sits Mone down! Momo runs, then PENALTY- NO, Mone ducks it, rolls Momo up, TWO! Mone blocks a kick, then SLAPS Momo! Mone knuckle locks, goes up, up, and FLYING- NO, Momo turns the arm-drag into a CROSSFACE CHICKEN WING! Mone endures, she knows this lock very well! Mone throws elbows, runs, but Momo clinches! And then she swings Mone around, tucks her, but Mone victory rolls! TWO!!

Momo has the legs, sits Mone back and PENALTY KICKS the arm! The fans fire up as Momo waits on Mone, and she BUZZSAWS! Cover, TWO! Mone survives but Momo drags her up. Momo runs, and METEORAS but into a BOSTON CRAB! Mone shifts to have the CROSSFACE! Not quite the Statement Maker but Momo still endures. The fans rally, Momo fights, ROPEBREAK! The ref counts, Mone lets go in frustration, and she wants the legs. Momo KICKS Mone away, then does it again, and again! Mone still runs up, METEORA! The fans boo but Mone goes out to the apron after Momo. Mone drags Momo up while the fans are torn.

Mone reels Momo in, but Momo fights the lift! Momo lifts, Mone fights that, and they go back and forth! The fans rally as Momo tucks, but Mone sunset flips! Momo holds onto the ropes, but Mone pries her free! POWERBOMB on the floor! The fans fire up and Mone grins as she sits back on the apron. Mone then drags Momo up, puts her in the ring, and pushes her to a cover, TWO! Momo survives and Mone grows frustrated. Mone talks trash right in Momo’s face, then SLAPS her! Mone drags Momo up, snapmares, and then runs, METEORA! Cover, TWO! Momo is tougher than that, but Mone clamps on with a GROUND COBRA TWIST!

Billie Starks is watching from somewhere in the building, and she seems to be taking notes. Momo endures the twist, fights with elbows, and Momo gets her one leg free. Momo fires body shots and forearms, then ROCKS Mone! And ROCKS her again! Momo runs, but Mone ducks to Gory Especial! Momo fights that, backslides Mone, but Mone rolls through! Momo Alabama Lifts her, tucks her, BASTARD DRIVER!! Cover, TWO!! Mone survives being crunched and she goes to a corner. The fans rally up, and Momo nods. Momo runs corner to corner, but Mone ELBOWS her away! Mone BOOTS Momo, reels her in, and snap suplexes!

Mone rolls through, here’s Dos Amigas! The fans boo, but Mone gives some Latina Heat, only for Momo to fire knees! Now Momo snap suplexes! That’s Una Amiga! Then Dos Amigas! Momo gives us some Latina Heat, only for Mone to fire knee after knee! But Momo stops Mone’s suplex! Mone stops Momo’s suplex, but then Momo suplexes Mone into the Tree of Woe! Momo then storms up to KICK! KICK! KICK! And KICK! Momo doesn’t stop, she just KICKS and KICKS and KICKS! Mone flops out of the Tree, the fans fire up, and Momo drags Mone up. Momo whips, Mone reverses, but Momo comes back to DROPKICK!

Mone flounders back to a corner, Momo runs in, DROPKICK! Mone falls in a heap and the fans fire up! Momo says one more time! The fans cheer that, and Momo goes corner to corner! HYDRAULIC DROPKICK! Mone sputters, Momo covers, TWO!! Mone survives and the fans rally. Hard to say if it’s “C E O!” or “C E NO!” Momo mocks Mone’s dance, the fans fire up, and Momo storms up to KICK! Mone staggers, but Momo KICKS, and KICKS, but Mone ducks one! Mone waistlocks, O’Conner Rolls, but the bridge becomes the CROSSFACE CHICKEN WING!! Mone flails, but she claws at the legs!

Mone pries the scissors open, rolls back to a cover, TWO!! Momo lets go in time, and goes for it again! Mone fights the crossface portion, wrenches out, and hits a BACKSTABBER! Both women are down, and Mone grits her teeth as she rises up. Mone is mad now, and she bumps Momo off buckles. Mone pushes Momo out, goes up the corner, and METEORAS! Cover, TWO!! Momo survives and Mone is shocked! Mone drags Momo up, CHOPS her in the corner, then CHOPS again! Mone goes corner to corner, then runs back in, but Momo dodges! Mone hits buckles, Momo fires KAWADA KICKS in the ropes! And then a KNEE!

Mone flops down, the fans fire up, and Momo goes up the corner! METEORA to the apron!! The fans fire up again and Momo covers, TWO!! Mone survives, but Momo doesn’t let that get to her! Momo drags Mone up, CROSSFACE CHICKEN- NO, Mone fights free, hooks Momo up, Gory Especial! But Momo fights the Money Maker! Momo RAMS Mone into the corner, runs in, but Mone BOOTS her! Mone goes up, FLYING ARM-DRAG, into the STATEMENT MAKER!! Momo fights around, the fans rally, and Momo reaches out! Mone pulls on the hold, Momo fights, the fans duel, and Mone kicks off the ropes!

Momo slips out! CROSSFACE CHICKEN WING!! Mone freaks out, she claws at the hold, and she gets free! Gory Especial, but Momo kicks and flails! Mone spins her, reels her in, POWERBOMB! Mone covers, TWO!! Momo is still in this and Mone is in disbelief! Mone hurries to cover again, TWO! Momo is tougher than Mone would like, but she drags Momo to the drop zone. Mone goes up the corner while the fans duel. There are a lot more boos than cheers, but Mone seems to like that. But then Momo sits up! Momo rises, Mone has seen a ghost! And a GAMANGIRI! Momo climbs up and the fans fire up!

Momo clinches Mone, for a SUPER BELLY2BELLY!!! Momo crawls to the cover, TWO!?!? Mone knows a move like that very well, too! But Momo says she’ll finish this now! Full nelson and DRAGON SUPLEX!! Then a cover, TWO?!? Momo says she’ll just go again! But Mone flips out of the pump handle! So Momo just KICKS her! And KICKS her! And then KICKS again!! Mone sputters, Momo aims from a corner, and Momo grins. Momo runs up to BUZZSAW!! Cover, TWO!!! Mone survives, if only just so! Momo is in disbelief, but she just goes to a corner. Momo climbs up, Mone stands, METEORA- NO, Mone dodges!

Mone goes up, aims, and CROSSBODIES! Cover, TWO! Mone drags Momo up, Gory Especial, MONEY MAKER!!! Into the STATEMENT MAKER!! MOMO TAPS, MONE WINS!

Winner: Mercedes Mone, by submission (still AEW TBS Champion)

Mone didn’t take Momo seriously when the challenge was made, but surely she takes her seriously now. Even so, Mone still won out, and she still has all four belts. But with Billie watching very closely, will The CEO’s days as TBS Champion finally be numbered?

 

AEW World Championship #1 Contender’s Match: Swerve Strickland w/ Prince Nana VS Ricochet!

While the prize on the line is a shot at the top title here in AEW, this is about so much more. The Embassy Robe is still in the possession of the One & Only, and Nana issued the ultimatum to Swerve himself: If they can’t get that robe back, then Nana is done. Though, will they want the robe back now that Ricochet’s put his logo on it? Or will Swerve take the robe, the title shot and everything Ricochet has left in body, mind and spirit?

Swerve makes his entrance, a live band playing his song, and Swerve high-fives the celebrities of LA. The bell rings and the fans are all fired up for “Whose House?” “SWERVE’S HOUSE!” Then they taunt Ricochet with, “YOU ARE BALD! YOU ARE BALD!” Ricochet tells them all that it doesn’t matter! He and Swerve storm up, both men kick, but Swerve spins Ricochet to half nelson. Ricochet arm-drags free, Swerve goes Matrix, but then Ricochet dodges the House Call! Ricochet dragon sleepers, Swerve powers out to whip, but Ricochet reverses. Swerve runs Ricochet over and the fans fire up! Ricochet bails out and Swerve seethes.

Ricochet chases after Nana, but Swerve storms out. Ricochet dodges to get in the ring, then builds speed. Ricochet rolls off Swerve’s back, handsprings, but so does Swerve! Swerve scoops and torture racks, RIB BREAKER! Ricochet writhes but Swerve shoves him down. Swerve drops a knee, then stalks Ricochet to the corner. Nana looks at the robe, but Swerve SLAPS away on Ricochet’s bad head! The ref counts, Swerve snapmares and goes up, FALLING UPPERCUT! Swerve hits the Griddy and the fans fire up. Then Swerve adds a basement UPPERCUT! Ricochet goes to a corner, but he YANKS Swerve into buckles!

Ricochet drags Swerve up, reels him in, back suplexes high and hard, then makes sure Nana stays back from the robe. The fans boo but Ricochet dares Nana to try something. Ricochet then CLUBS Swerve, whips him to ropes, but Swerve reverses. Ricochet grabs ropes, Swerve runs up, but Ricochet BOOTS him! And SLAPS him! The fans boo while Ricochet talks trash, but Swerve LARIATS Ricochet up and out! Swerve goes out and he rains down fists! The fans fire up, the ring count climbs, but Swerve KNEES Ricochet into the barriers! Swerve just fires off, but Nana says to stop. Swerve SHOVES Nana!?

Nana is upset, but Swerve apologizes. He’s just heated right now with everything going on. Nana is too upset, and he’s leaving?! Ricochet uses the barriers to steal the HOUSE CALL! Ricochet puts Swerve in the ring, springboards, and FLYING LARIATS! Then he LIONSAULTS! Cover, TWO! The fans boo as Nana goes to the back! Ricochet mockingly waves bye, then he CLUBS Swerve down! Ricochet tells the fans to shut up, but then he stomps Swerve to the corner. Fans chant “YOU’RE STILL BALD!” Ricochet whips Swerve corner to corner hard, and Swerve falls back. Swerve sputters, Ricochet taunts him, but Swerve kicks at him.

Ricochet kicks Swerve, CHOPS him, but Swerve ROCKS Ricochet! Ricochet wobbles, Swerve CHOPS! Swerve runs, but Ricochet follows to CUTTER! Ricochet taunts the fans, and who is that getting so heated? Leslie Jones is strongly Team Swerve it seems. Ricochet snapmares Swerve, clamps on with a chinlock, but Swerve endures. Ricochet grinds Swerve, the fans rally for “Whose House?” “SWERVE’S HOUSE!” Swerve grabs a foot, twists it, and he stands up to slip around, BACKBREAKER to a whip, and a DROPKICK! Both men are down and the fans fire up! Swerve kips up, the fans fire up, and he LARIATS! And LARIATS!

Swerve whips, HIP TOSS, but Ricochet handsprings through to wrench and whip. Ricochet then follows, but no cutter this time! Swerve gator rolls and suplexes Ricochet for a BRAINBUSTER! Cover, TWO! Ricochet survives, Leslie Jones is getting sweaty, and Swerve whips. Ricochet reverses, runs, and DISCUS LARIATS! The fans boo but Ricochet goes up the corner. The fans boo Ricochet, but Swerve rises up! Swerve ROCKS Ricochet, then ROCKS him again! Swerve climbs up, and he CLUBS away on Ricochet! Swerve then adjusts up top, but Ricochet hits him back! Both men stand on the very top, but Swerve fires a body shot!

Ricochet drops down, Swerve avoids a sweep, but not the GAMANGIRI! Ricochet springboards, to DRAGON RANA! Cover, TWO and Swerve deadlifts to POWERBOMB! And then deadlifts again, to POP-UP POWERSLAM! Cover, TWO!! Ricochet survives and the fans fire up! “This is Awesome!” as Swerve stalks Ricochet to the ropes. Ricochet fights the half nelson, but Swerve blocks the superkick! Swerve ROUNDHOUSES Ricochet, then storms up to waistlock. He pops Ricochet right up, but Ricochet POISON-RANAS on the apron! Both men fall and the fans lose their minds! Ricochet crawls his way over to Swerve, but he soaks up heat first.

Ricochet tells all the fans to shut up, then he gets Swerve in the ring. Ricochet looks to the desk, and he drags Swerve back out. Ricochet TOSSES Swerve onto the Spanish announce desk! The fans fire up as Ricochet hops up to join Swerve! Ken Jeong and Paul Walter-Hauser say don’t do it! Swerve fires body shots, and he ROCKS Ricochet! Ricochet SOBATS back! Ricochet fires up, the fans boo, but Swerve hooks Ricochet up in an INVERTED Gory Especial! VERTABREAKER on the desk!! The fans are thunderously losing their minds while Ricochet shouts in pain! Swerve gets Ricochet in the ring and in the drop zone!

Swerve climbs up, takes aim, and the fans are thunderous again! KILL STOMPS!!! Cover, TWO!?!? Ricochet survives and Swerve is shocked! But the fans rally up for “Whose House?” “SWERVE’S HOUSE!” Swerve calls for it, but Ricochet flops over! Swerve says fine, and he takes off his armbands. But Ricochet goes to low blow! Swerve stops that, so Ricochet CLAWS the eyes! NORTHERN LIGHTS, roll through, and deadlift for a BRAINBSUTER! Ricochet roars, the fans boo, but Ricochet climbs the corner. Ricochet tells the fans this is on them! Ricochet goes up, soaks up that heat, and 630 SENTONS!! Cover, TWO!?!?

Ricochet is absolutely shocked as Swerve survives! And NANA IS BACK! NANA SNATCHES THE ROBE! It was all a fake out! Swerve rolls Ricochet up, TWO!! Ricochet runs up, dodges Swerve, and he waistlocks! Swerve elbows Ricochet, whips him, but Ricochet DIVES onto Nana!! Ricochet takes the robe back! The fans boo as Ricochet puts the robe on, but Swerve DIVES! Into a DEATH VALLEY DRIVER?!? Ricochet taunts Ken, Paul, whoever else is with them, and then goes back to ringside. The fans still chant “BALD! BALD! BALD!” Ricochet puts Swerve in, and he stalks behind Swerve to then dragon sleeper! VERTIGO!!! Cover, TWO?!?!?

Swerve survives again and Ricochet is shocked all over again! Ricochet says fine, they’ll do this the hard way! Ricochet locks ‘n’ loads, but Nana holds onto the robe! Ricochet and Nana tug-o-war, and Nana gets the robe back! O’Conner Roll, TWO! Swerve and Nana avoid colliding, but Ricochet SHOVES them into each other! O’Conner with tights! TWO!! HOUSE CALL!!! The fans are thunderous, and HOUSE CALL again!!! Cover, TWO!?!?! The fans are electric and Swerve says just gotta do more! BIG PRESSURE!!! Cover, SWERVE WINS!!

Winner: Swerve Strickland, by pinfall (NEW #1 Contender to the AEW World Championship)

Nana and LA all cheer as Swerve wins it all! The #1 contender’s contract and the Embassy Robe are theirs once again! Swerve even makes sure to present the robe to Nana himself. They hug it out and the fans cheer! But now the question is: Who will the Most Dangerous Man be targeting after tonight’s world title main event?

 

AEW Continental Championship: Kazuchika Okada VS Brody King!

The Rainmaker keeps trying to make everyone his b*tch, but he was the one who had to cheat Buddy Matthews in Australia. The Hounds of Hell will not stand for this, so now the King of Death is coming for vengeance. Will Okada fail to get out of Brody’s backyard here in LA? Or will there be no end to the reign?

The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see whose bark is worse than their bite!

The bell rings, the fans bark, but Okada isn’t bothered by that. Okada and Brody circle, tie up, and Brody powers Okada to a corner. The ref counts, Okada turns things around, and Okada mocks the bark as he backs off. Brody storms up, Okada dodges him, and then Okada CLAWS Brody’s eyes! The ref counts, Okada stops to scoop, but Brody’s big! Brody then scoops Okada and SLAMS him down! The fans fire up and bark more as Okada bails out. Brody goes out the side, storms up on Okada, and blocks Okada’s kick! Brody CHOPS Okada, then puts him in the ring. The fans fire up and Brody storms back inside.

Okada CLUBS Brody at the ropes and HAMMERS away! Okada puts Brody in a corner, fires an ELBOW, then seethes. Okada ELBOWS Brody again, then goes corner to corner. Okada runs back up, but Brody puts him on the apron! Brody DECKS Okada, goes out after him, and CHOPS! Okada sputters and fans fire up! Brody whips Okada hard into railing, then he ROCKS Okada before he CHOPS him! Brody then whips Okada hard into barriers! The fans fire up, Brody makes Okada take a seat as he ROCKS him with a forearm. The fans fire up, Brody runs up, but Okada dodges! Brody crashes into barriers, and Okada hits a DDT to the floor!

Okada drags Brody up, puts him in the ring, and he fires forearms in the corner. Brody ROCKS Okada, Okada ROCKS Brody, and Okada fires a flurry! The ref counts, Okada backs off, and the fans rally up. Okada storms up on Brody and brings him around. Brody ROCKS Okada, CHOPS Okada, and repeat! The fans fire up and Okada staggers to a corner. Brody whips, runs up, but Okada dodges! Okada scoops and SLAMS! Okada is proud of himself with just that, and then he goes to the corner. Okada climbs, but Brody DOUBLE CHOPS him first! Brody climbs up and has Okada on the very top! SUPER DUPER PLEX!

Both Brody and Okada writhe while the fans fire up. A standing count count starts while the fans rally behind Brody. Both men stand at 5 of 10, Brody SWATS a lariat to CHOP! And CHOP! And LARIAT! Okada gets up but Brody LARIATS again! Okada stands up at the ropes, but Brody BACKDROPS him! Okada flops out of the ring but Brody grins. Brody builds speed, and he DIVES! Direct hit into the railing! The fans fire up and bark with Brody, and Brody watches Okada stand. Brody storms up, stalks Okada, but Okada has the belt! Brody kicks low, then drags Okada over. Brody makes Okada take a seat with a CHOP!

Okada sputters, Brody gets space, and here goes nothing! CROSSBODY against the railing! The fans fire up and Brody puts Okada in the ring. Brody then SENTONS, covers, TWO! Okada survives but Brody drags him up. Okada fires a forearm, but Brody just eggs him on! Okada fires more shots, but Brody ROCKS Okada! Okada BOOTS! And UPPERCUTS! Okada runs, ducks Brody’s lariat, but Brody avoids the dropkick! Brody runs and LARIATS Okada again! Brody gut wrenches, but Okada counters to an Alabama Lift! REVERSE NECKBREAKER! Okada drags Brody to the drop zone, and he goes up the corner! MACHO ELBOW!

Okada winds it up, and the fans cheer, for the Rainmaker MIDDLE FINGER! Okada drags Brody up, ripcords, but Brody fireman’s carries! CORNER DEATH VALLEY! Brody barks, the fans join in, and Brody runs corner to corner, CANNONBALL! Brody drags Okada to a cover, TWO! Okada survives and Brody grows frustrated, but the fans continue to rally. Okada goes to the apron, Brody joins him, and Brody reels Okada in! The fans duel as Okada fights the lift! Okada BACKDROPS Brody on the apron! Then Okada DROPKICKS Brody into barriers! Brody goes down in a heap, but Okada drags him up.

Okada puts Brody in the ring, then grabs that chair! The fans boo, the ref reprimands, but Okada brings the chair in the ring. Okada lets the ref have the chair, to use the belt! BELT SHOT!! Okada hides the evidence, he covers Brody, TWO!!! Okada is shocked, but then he shakes his head. Okada drags Brody up, ripcords, and RAIN- LARIAT from Brody!! The fans fire up as Brody snarls. Brody hauls Okada up, reels him in, GONZO- NO, Okada fights free! ROLLING- Brody catches the lariat to HEADBUTT! Both men stagger and go to corners. Brody runs up to SPLASH! The fans bark again, Brody runs up, into a DROPKICK!

Okada has Brody reeling, and he baits him into the ripcord! RAINMAKER!! Cover, Okada wins!!

Winner: Kazuchika Okada, by pinfall (still AEW Continental Champion)

The Hounds tried, but they could not stop the reign. Will anyone ever take this title off of Okada?

 

AEW World Tag Team Championships: Bobby Lashley & Shelton Benjamin w/ MVP VS The Outrunners!

As Montel Vontavious Porter said just last night on Collision, these two teams are two sides of the same coin. They’re all about entertaining the fans, but they do it in very, very different ways. Truth Magnum & Turbo Floyd like to flex and have fun to make the fans smile and laugh, but The All Mighty & The Standard of Excellence prefer to hurt people. Will the Youngest Men Alive prove that underdog stories still have happy endings? Or is this going to be more of a cautionary tale?

The introductions are made, the belts are raised, and we see what kind of entertainment plays better with today’s audience.

We see teams like “The Cru,” Lio Rush & Action Andretti, watching this ringside. Shelton and Truth start, tie up, and Truth headlocks. Shelton powers up and out, Truth LARIATS, but Shelton shrugs it off. Truth UPPERCUTS, kicks, then snap suplexes! But Shelton is right up! Shelton scoops and SLAMS Truth, and Truth scrambles away. The fans rally, Truth tags Turbo, and Turbo eggs Shelton on. Turbo then fakes the run to ROCK Shelton! Turbo flexes, ROCKS Shelton again, then whips. Shelton reverses, scoops, but Turbo slips free to waistlock. Shelton bucks the O’Conner, and he KNEES Turbo low!

Shelton headlocks, Turbo powers out as Truth tags in! Truth DROPKICKS Shelton, then The Outrunners DOUBLE LARIAT Shelton out! But Lashley snatches Turbo! Truth goes after Lashley, then runs to BLAST Lashley down! The Outrunners watch carefully, then they spin around! The fans cheer the flexing while MVP has the Syndicate regroup. MVP says the Outrunners are trying to shine on them! Are they gonna let them do that?! HELL NO! The Syndicate gets in there, they brawl with The Outrunners, then Shelton whips and BOOTS Truth! Lashley gets Turbo out of the ring, Shelton tags Lashley in, and they mug Truth.

Lashley runs and he RAMS into Truth! Lashley reels Truth in just to RAM him again and again! Lashley then turns Truth for a NECKBREAKER! The fans rally and duel, and Lashley reels Truth in. Lashley suplexes, Truth fights it, then slips free. Lashley ELBOWS Truth, then LARIATS him up and out! Tag to Shelton and he storms right up on Truth. Shelton RAMS Truth into the apron, then the barriers, and back again! MVP cheers Shelton on and Shelton throws Truth into the ring. Shelton then GERMAN SUPLEXES! MVP says that’s what he’s talking about! Shelton stalks Truth and GERMAN SUPLEXES him again!

Shelton tags Lashley, and Lashley drags Truth up to put him in the corner. Lashley fires ELBOW after ELBOW, and he whips corner to corner. Truth goes up and over, but Lashley catches him! OKLAHOMA STAMPEDE! Cover, TWO! Truth survives, but Lashley is smiling because ironically, this is him having fun. Lashley looms over Truth, puts him in the corner, and he tags in Shelton. Shelton brings Truth around to scoop, but Truth fights free! Truth runs to BULLDOG Shelton down! The fans fire up as Truth and Shelton crawl! Turbo is all fired up, Truth hot tags him in! Turbo gets in and fires hands, but Shelton knees low!

Shelton whips, but Turbo dodges the step-up knee! Turbo scoops and SLAMS! The fans fire up, Lashley storms in, but Truth BLASTS him back out! The Outrunners fire up, and the fans join in, “Turbo Floyd! YOU SON OF A B*TCH!” They shake hands and DOUBLE ELBOW DROP! MVP is furious, Lashley storms back in, and he breaks the double ax handle to DOUBLE LARIAT! Lashley drags Truth out, and brings him to the steps. But Truth drop toeholds Lashley into the steps! Shelton is mad, he ROCKS Turbo with a right! But Turbo just feeds off it! Shelton fires more shots, and Turbo is firing up again!

The fans fire up as he goes into Turbo Mode! Turbo fires haymakers, then whips! Turbo LARIATS Shelton in a corner, but Shelton ROCKS him in return! Shelton and Turbo trade shots, then Turbo knuckle locks! Turbo goes up the corner, and he goes Old School! The fans fire up for the FLYING ARM-DRAG! But Shelton’s right up to SUPERKICK! Cover, TRUTH BREAKS IT! The fans fire up but here’s Lashley! MILE HIGH SPINEBUSTER for Truth! Shelton adds the STEP-UP KNEE! SPEAR from Lashley!! Shelton gives Turbo the STEP-UP KNEE! And Lashley hits the SPEAR!! Cover, Hurt Syndicate wins!

Winners: The Hurt Syndicate, by pinfall (still AEW World Tag Team Champions)

The Outrunners put up a fight, but they couldn’t outpower The All Mighty & The Standard of Excellence. Lio & Action like what they see, but is The Cru really considering their chances against the Hurt Syndicate?

 

AEW Women’s World Championship, The Hollywood Ending: Toni Storm VS Mariah May!

The epic saga that we’ve seen between The Timeless and The Glamour finally reaches it’s finale, and a trilogy this epic can only end with no disqualifications, no count outs, Falls Count Anywhere and ANYTHING GOES! But will the Woman From Hell once again make this All About Mariah? Or will this go down as a timeless classic?

As Mariah makes her entrance, she’s like an evil bride yet also a mourning widow. As for Toni, she has dramatic make-up, but a look on her face that could kill. Mariah doesn’t even wait, she rushes back out there to attack! The bell rings as the brawl is on, and the fans are fired up! Toni KNEES low, SMACKS Mariah off the stage, and then she and Luther get the Hollywood table! Mariah THROWS Toni down, SPITS at Luther, then goes back to Toni. Mariah whips, but Toni reveres! Mariah stops from falling off the stage, and she CHOPS Toni! Mariah then reels Toni in and aims for off the stage!

Toni fights the suplex, lifts, but Mariah fights free to DDT on the stage! Cover, TWO! The fans rally up while Mariah goes back to her bouquet of flowers. SURPRISE~! She has a stun gun! Luther grabs it from Mariah, but Mariah LOW BLOWS him! Then she SHOTGUNS Luther over the catering table! Mariah storms her way back to Toni, but Toni SLAPS her! And pops Mariah up, SKY HIGH off the stage and down through tables!! The fans lose their minds while the ref checks both women. Toni rises up to cover, TWO!! Toni crawls away, but then storms back up and she drags Mariah up. Toni RAMS Mariah into railing, then drags her up again.

Toni brings Mariah to ringside, sends her into steel steps, then reels her in. Mariah fights free and wants to run away! Toni chases her, Mariah throws hands, but Toni trips her! Mariah gets split up the middle by the barriers, then Toni drags her around, DRAPING DDT to the floor! The fans fire up and Toni rises again. Toni sits Mariah up against the railing, then gets space. Toni runs back in, but Mariah moves! Hip attack hits railing! Mariah drags Toni up the steps, reels her in, FULL METAL STORM ZERO!! Mariah steals Toni’s move again and in the most vicious way yet! Mariah looks under the ring, and she brings out a chain! And a chair!

Toni is busted open, but Mariah storms up to wipe it up with her bride veil. Mariah puts Toni in the ring, bumps her off buckles, and then hoists her up into a Tree of Woe! Mariah then wedges a chair in Toni’s face, runs corner to corner, FULL METAL HIP ATTACK! Double-edged but Mariah says it was worth it! Cover, TWO! Toni sits up with a crimson mask like no other, but Mariah isn’t done! Mariah drags Toni up, but Toni switches to GERMAN SUPLEX! Both women bail out, and Toni brings out a bucket?! It’s full of broken champagne bottles! Wait, Mariah has her own bucket! Toni’s bucket is bigger, but wait, both women are taping up their hands!?

The fans are going nuts already as the tape is used to stick broken glass to their fists!! The fans tell both women they are sick, but that was pretty obvious months ago. Both women bob ‘n’ weave the glass fists, then Mariah kicks low! Toni dodges and JABS! All that glass goes right into Mariah’s face! Toni brings the whole bucket with her now, and dumps it out on the mat! She also adds Mariah’s bucket to this, and now Mariah is busted open! Toni drags Mariah into the ring, across the glass, and then she JABS a piece right into the wound!! The fans are freaking out, this has become a slasher film! But Mariah SMASHES glass into Toni’s groin!

Toni staggers away to a corner, Mariah puts her up top, and she TASTES the blood! They fire hands, Toni shoves Mariah away, but Mariah comes back! STRATUSPHERE onto the glass!!! Toni writhes in pain, but Mariah hoists her up! Fireman’s carry, MAYDAY onto glass!! Cover, TWO!?!? Toni survives and the fans are thunderous for “A E DUB! A E DUB!” Mariah is furious, she drags Toni up, but Toni hits a FULL METAL STORM ZERO!! Cover, TWO?!? Mariah survives hitting a chair with her head, but Toni will not stop! “This is Awesome!” as Toni storms over to the timekeeper’s area. Toni is contemplating what she can do, and VOILA! THE SHOE~!

The fans fire up as this is the very shoe Mariah first used to bloody Toni up last year! Mariah knows it, too, and she runs away! Mariah finds the title belt, but Toni CURB STOMPS her onto it! Toni SLASHES Mariah with the belt, like Mariah once did to her! Toni LASHES Mariah again! Toni is almost in tears, but she still LASHES Mariah! And now, the shoe…! Toni holds onto it almost cherishingly, and she brings Mariah up. Mariah begs for mercy, but then she fireman’s carries! MAYDAY on the stage!! Cover, TWO!??! Mariah screams, her blood still pouring out, but now she has the shoe! “This is Awesome!” as Mariah drags Toni up.

Mariah brings Toni to the table, but Toni blocks the shoe attack! Toni HEADBUTTS Mariah, then she has the shoe! Toni HAMMERS Mariah with the shoe!! Then she reels Mariah in, STORM ZERO down through the table!!! Cover, TONI WINS!!!

Winner: Toni Storm, by pinfall (still AEW Women’s World Champion)

Ash Avildsen and the rest of the Queen of the Ring cast applaud this match, it is a standing ovation from the entire crowd! As the tron puts it, this is “The End” of this story once and for all. And despite it all, Toni still holds on to Mariah comfortingly. But after a story like this, will either Toni or Mariah ever be the same again?

 

AEW International Championship: Konosuke Takeshita w/ Don Callis VS Kenny Omega!

Don Callis used The Alpha to replace Kenny Omega, and with Don Callis’ help, Takeshita won twice against Omega in one week. But that felt like another life given what both men have been through since then. The Cleaner has a new lease on life, will he make the most of it by becoming AEW’s first Grand Slam Champion? Or will there be a new Best Bout Machine?

The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see who is truly Callis’ greatest protege!

The bell rings and the fans rally up for Kenny! Omega and Konosuke tie up, break, then reset. They tie up, Konosuke headlocks, but Omega powers up and out. They RAM shoulders, Omega rebounds and RAMS Konosuke, and the fans fire up. Omega shoves Konosuke, they fire forearms back and forth, but Konosuke gets the edge. Konosuke runs, Omega reels him in and CHOPS him on the back! Callis says that’s nasty! Omega full nelsons, Konosuke elbows free, and runs, but into a CHOP! Konosuke keeps going, runs through a CHOP to TAKESHITA LINE! The fans rally while Konosuke drags Omega up. But Omega suplexes first!

The fans cheer and Omega fires himself up. Omega runs corner to corner to ELBOW Konosuke! Omega TOSSES Konosuke out, then PLANCHAS! Down goes Konosuke and the fans fire up again! Omega drags Konosuke up, whips him into barriers, and he RAMS Konosuke against barriers. Then RAMS him again! The fans tell off Callis, and Omega CHOPS Konosuke! Omega high-fives fans, but Konosuke CLAWS Omega’s eyes! And FLAPJACKS him off the apron! Konosuke refreshes the ring count, then he hauls Omega up. Konosuke whips Omega hard into railing! Konosuke looms over Omega and brings him up.

The fans rally for Omega but Konosuke puts him in the ring. Cover, TWO! Omega stays in this but Konosuke stays on Omega at the ropes. Konosuke CHOKES Omega, the ref counts, but Konosuke adds punches! Konosuke lets off at 4, the fans rally for Omega, and Omega fires body shots! Omega fires haymakers but Konosuke kicks and DDTS! Cover, TWO! Konosuke TOSSES Omega out, distracts the ref, and Callis goes after Omega! The fans boo, Callis hurts his own hand, but Konosuke puts Omega in the ring. Konosuke rains down fists, then clamps on with a chinlock. Konosuke grinds Omega down but the fans rally.

Omega endures, fights up, and he fires body shots. Konosuke ROCKS Omega, whips him, but Omega reverses. Konosuke grabs ropes, then he DUMPS Omega out! Omega lands on the apron to ROCK Konosuke! Omega bumps Konosuke off buckles, then goes up a corner! CROSSBODY FLOPS as Konosuke moves! Konosuke whips and kitchen sink knees! Cover, TWO! Omega stays in this, but the target is clear. Konosuke grins as he lurks behind Omega. Omega rises up, Konosuke bumps him off buckles, and he RAMS into Omega! And RAMS again! And again! The ref counts, Konosuke lets off, but Omega runs up to fire hands!

The fans fire up with Omega but Konosuke kicks low! Konosuke runs up, but Omega BOOTS him! Omega runs, but into a clinch! EXPLODER! Omega flounders, Konosuke grins, and the fans rally up. Konosuke goes out, he brings out a TABLE, and the fans are torn. The fans like tables but they don’t like where this is going. Konosuke stands the table up, goes to the apron, and he brings Omega up. Konosuke lifts Omega up, but Omega clings to ropes! The fans rally, Omega holds on for dear life, and he throws down elbows! Konosuke lets go and Omega CHOPS him! Omega runs up to SLAM DUNK Konosuke on the apron!

Omega lets everyone know to get back, he’s gonna jump off of something. The fans rally and Omega brings Konosuke up. Omega fireman’s carries, “You! Can’t! Escape!” ROLLING SENTON, and then Omega goes up the railing! MOON- NO! Konosuke SHOVES Omega off and he hits more railing! The fans boo but Konosuke tells the ref to call this! The ref tells Konosuke to get in the ring, and Doc Sampson is checking on Omega. Omega sits up, and he certainly insists he can still go. The ring count is 5 of 10, Omega hobbles at 7, and he rolls in at 8! Into an ALPHA ELBOW! Cover, TWO! Konosuke suplexes, BRAINBUSTER! Cover, TWO!!

Konosuke is confused as how Omega is still in this, but he clamps on a body scissors. The fans rally and sing for Omega as he endures. Konosuke pulls hair, puts on the squeeze, but Omega fights around. Konosuke waistlocks so it’s a bearhug now. Omega endures, reaches out, and the fans rally harder! Omega stands, reaches back for a headlock, and he then BELL CLAPS Konosuke! And again! Konosuke staggers, the fans fire up, but he runs back in! Omega goes up and over, somersaults and goes up the other corner, CROSSBODY! Both men are down and the fans fire up again. Omega then POLISH HAMMERS! And POLISH HAMMERS!

The fans fire up as Omega aims, DISCUS- NO, Konosuke ducks! Omega blocks a kick to CLUB the, then CHOP! Omega JABS, JABS, and whips, but Konosuke reverses. Omega reverses, fireman’s carries, “You! Can’t! Escape!” ROLLING SENTON and then MOONSAULT from the corner! Cover, TWO! Konosuke stays in this and Omega clutches his side. The fans rally, Omega brings Konosuke up, but Konosuke fires body shots! BODY BLOW, and then Konosuke runs, but into a RANA! Konosuke tumbles out, the fans fire up, and the Terminator Drums begin! Omega rises, builds speed, but Callis trips him up!

The fans boo as Callis gets away with one! Konosuke LARIATS Omega and himself out of the ring! Callis slithers back to commentary, the fans rally him off again, but Konosuke drags Omega up. Konosuke reels him in for a GERMAN SUPLEX to the floor! Omega sputters, the ref wants this in the ring, but Konosuke decides he wants to use his table. Konosuke drags Omega up, reels him in, and he fires up! The fans boo, but Omega blocks the suplex! Omega CLUBS away on Konosuke, then he pushes the table over. The fans boo that, but Omega drags Konosuke over. Omega suplexes, but Konosuke blocks it!

Konosuke turns things around, and he GOURD BUSTERS Omega on the upside-down table! Omega is fortunate he didn’t hit a leg, but the frame still sucks! Konosuke pushes the table on its side, and he says, “I KILL HIM!” GOURD BUSTER on the table’s edge!! The fans boo but Callis is loving this! Konosuke puts Omega in, and he SENTONS down! Omega writhes, but Konosuke steps on him, to then SENTON again! The ref has Konosuke back off to check Omega, but Konosuke pushes past! SENTON onto knees! Now Konosuke blames the ref for that! Konosuke scoops Omega to SLAM him! Konosuke goes up and fans boo more.

Konosuke reaches the top, and he SUPER SENTONS but Omega dodges! Omega and Konosuke are both down, a standing count starts, and we pass 5 of 10. Konosuke snarls, he and Omega rise, and Konosuke fires a forearm! Omega checks his chin, then comes back to ROCK Konosuke! Konosuke ROCKS Omega, and the fans boo. Omega ROCKS Konosuke, and the fans cheer! Konosuke ROCKS Omega, the fans boo, but Omega fires himself back up! Omega fires a flurry, but Konosuke BODY BLOWS and ALPHA ELBOWS! Konosuke whips, Omega reverses, but Konosuke ducks ‘n’ dodges! But Omega catches him to a SNAP DRAGON SUPLEX!

The fans fire up as Omega has Konosuke again! But Konosuke fights the nelson, feints high and BODY BLOWS again! Konosuke runs, but into a V-TRIGGER! Omega reels Konosuke in, hoists him up, POWERBOMB! Flip over, V-TRIGGER! Cover, TWO!! Konosuke survives but Omega stays calm. Konosuke goes to ropes, fans rally up. Omega runs, has to catch his breath, but then Konosuke dodges! BLUE THUNDER BOMB!! Cover, TWO!! Omega survives and the fans fire up! “This is Awesome!” Konosuke runs to HELLUVA KICK in the corner! And then he puts Omega up top, climbs up behind him, but Omega fights back!

Omega CLUBS Konosuke down, but Konosuke LARIATS Omega off the corner!! The ref goes out to check Omega and Omega is somehow still in this. Konosuke drags Omega up, stands on the very top, but Omega fires shots! Omega ROCKS Konosuke, then springboards up, SUPER SUNSET FLIP POWERBOMB!! Both men are down and the fans are thunderous! Cover, TWO!! Konosuke survives and Callis can breathe again. The fans rally as Konosuke goes to ropes, and Omega runs up, V-TRIGGER! Omega snarls, he drags Konosuke up again, and he Electric- NO, the bad gut won’t let him lift! Omega CLUBS Konosuke, then tries again!

Omega has the Electric Chair, but Konosuke slips out to Electric Chair back! Omega slips free, scoops and gut wrenches, but Konosuke turns that around! TOMBSTONE! But Konosuke holds on!? And he tucks Omega in, BASTARD DRIVER!! Cover, TWO?!?! Omega survives and LA is electric! Konosuke roars, runs, POWER DRIVE KNEE!! Cover, TWO!?!?! POWER DRIVE KNEE!!! Cover, ONE?!?!?!? WHAT?!?! LA is erupting for “KENNY! KENNY!” but Konosuke storms up. Omega fires shots, Konosuke guards, and then he fires a flurry in return! BODY BLOW! Konosuke reels Omega in, but Omega fights the suplex!

Omega wrenches free, but an ALPHA ELBOW knocks him down! Konosuke goes again, but Omega slips free of the suplex! Ripcord V-TRIGGER!! And then Omega hits a STUFF PILEDRIVER!!! Cover, TWO!!! Konosuke survives, but Omega is too tired to be upset. LA says “This is Awesome!” and that they should “Fight Forever!” But this has to end somehow, and Omega rises up. Omega storms around, Konosuke scowls at Omega, and so Omega lines up a shot. V-TRIGGER!! Konosuke flops over, but Omega glares at him. The fans want that “ONE MORE TIME!” Omega sits Konosuke up, for a V-TRIGGER!!

Konosuke fops down again, but Omega isn’t done with him. Omega makes Konosuke sit up, lines up his shot, and Konosuke says bring it! V- NO!! Konosuke blocks the knee and then ALPHA ELBOWS! AND LEFT SIDE! ROLLING- V-TRIGGER!! Omega reels Konosuke in for a POISON-RANA!! Callis is furious and gets off commentary again. Omega rises, he aims his finger gun, and BANG! Omega runs, V-TRIGGER!! Omega reels Konosuke in but Callis has Konosuke’s hand! The ref reprimands, Omega KICKS Callis away! Electric Chair, but Konosuke spins through! RAGIN- NO, Omega sips free, WRING and ghost pin! TWO!! Omega rolls with Konosuke, Oklahoma Roll! OMEGA WINS!!!

Winner: Kenny Omega, by pinfall (NEW AEW International Champion)

For all of Callis trying to get involved, he could NOT screw over Omega! Callis and Konosuke skulk away, will they be back for more with Omega? Will Omega start on an even brighter chapter now that he is champion once again?

 

Steel Cage Match: Will Ospreay VS Kyle Fletcher w/ Don Callis!

Callis sure likes driving wedges between people. He is why Konosuke turned on Omega, and he is why The United Empire fell apart here in AEW. The Aerial Assassin and The Aussie Arrow were like brothers, but now they’re the bitterest of enemies. Will Ospreay humble Kyle and prove he is on another level? Or will The Protostar be THE star here in Los Angeles?

Kyle makes his entrance, Callis returning to ringside for it, and then Kyle climbs the cage from the outside. Ospreay gets a remix of his catchphrase, “On another level,” as part of his theme, and then he climbs the cage from the outside to match. This is all to make it clear, there’s no escaping to win! Ospreay and Kyle glare at each other from across the way, then they descend into the cage. The fans sing for “Ospreay~ Ospreay Ospreay Ospreay~!” The bell rings, and both men run up! They fire fists fast and furious, then Ospreay kicks low! OspreY headlocks, Kyle powers up and out, Ospreay RAMS him but Kyle RAMS Ospreay! They RAM each other more, then Ospreay ROCKS Kyle!

Ospreay runs, but Kyle CLOBBERS Ospreay! Kyle soaks up the heat, then he goes back to Ospreay. Ospreay stops from hitting steel, but then Kyle does the same! Kyle whips, Ospreay ducks ‘n’ dodges, and then Ospreay RANAS! The fans fire up, Ospreay runs at the corner, but Kyle pops him up and to the apron. Ospreay ROCKS Kyle back, but there’s not a lot of room there. Ospreay steps inside, Kyle BOOTS him! Kyle whips, Ospreay reveres, but Kyle stops from hitting steel! So Ospreay CLAWS at Kyle’s hand! Ospreay ROCKS Kyle, whips him, but Kyle reverses. Ospreay handsprings, but his feet hit the steel! Ospreay hobbles, Kyle LARIATS him down!

The fans boo, but this is the first cage match in both men’s careers, so there is a bit of an adjustment period. Kyle BOOTS Ospreay down, he’s adjusting rather nicely. The fans boo, but Kyle CHOPS Ospreay. Kyle puts Ospreay against the ropes and CHOPS! Ospreay grits his teeth, but he CHOPS back! And CHOPS again! And CHOPS again! Kyle knees low, suplexes, but into STUN DOG MILLIONAIRE! The fans fire up and Ospreay builds speed, to springboard and OSC- NO, Kyle blocks the cutter to suplex and LAWN DART! Ospreay hits steel and falls back! Kyle grins and soaks up the heat from LA.

Kyle goes back to Ospreay, and Ospreay is busted open! Kyle smiles as he shows it to the crowd. Kyle stands Ospreay up to GRINDE his forehead into the cage! The cage is a grater against that wound, and Kyle shoves Ospreay down. Kyle is certainly a caged animal, and he licks the blood off the steel!? The fans tell Kyle he is sick, but Kyle waits on Ospreay to stand. Kyle storms up on Ospreay, has him in the corner, and he rains down fists on the bloody wound! The fans don’t count along, but Kyle still goes to TEN! Kyle stops only to flex, then he drags Ospreay up. Kyle whips Ospreay corner to corner hard and Ospreay falls back. Cover, ONE!!

Ospreay still has grit but Kyle just STOMPS him down! Kyle grins, looms over Ospreay, but the fans rally up. Kyle is annoyed by that, but he whips corner to corner. Ospreay goes up, up and around, PIP PIP CHEERIO! The fans fire up as Ospreay improvises that springboard. Ospreay roars and rises up, and then he ROCKS Kyle again and again! Ospreay whips Kyle hard into steel! And then hard into more steel! And then BACKDROPS Kyle, for a STANDING SKY TWISTER! Cover, TWO! Kyle stays in this, the ref checks Ospreay, and Ospreay says he’s fine. The fans rally behind Ospreay as he goes back for Kyle.

Callis claims he is concerned about blood loss now, but that’s as Ospreay gives Kyle some Kawada Kicks! And a CHOP! And another CHOP! And then another CHOP! Kyle falls over, Ospreay roars, and the fans fire up! Ospreay glares at Callis through the cage chain links, then goes back for Kyle. Kyle is under the ropes, but Ospreay drags him up. Ospreay CHOPS Kyle against the steel! And CHOPS again! And CHOPS again! Again! Again! Kyle slumps down, but Ospreay makes him stand up! Ospreay says Kyle wanted this, so he CHOPS again! The fans fire up as Ospreay lets Kyle flop over this time.

Kyle crawls into the ring, possibly bleeding from the pec, but Ospreay runs up. Kyle BOOTS first! Then SNAP HALF ‘N’ HALF! Both men are down, but Kyle goes to ropes. Kyle stands, and he rips a buckle pad away! The fans boo but there’s nothing stopping Kyle from doing this! But Ospreay stops from hitting the buckle! Ospreay fires hands, but Kyle SHOVES Ospreay into the buckle! And then GAMANGIRI! Kyle puts Ospreay up top, climbs up, but Ospreay resists the suplex! Ospreay slips under, tucks Kyle in, FULL METAL NANDOS! And then Ospreay YANKS Kyle down! Kyle hits buckle, Ospreay trips him, CATAPULT into the steel!

Kyle scrapes against steel as he falls between wall and ropes! The fans fire up and Ospreay has a crazed look in his eyes! Ospreay stands, steadies himself, and he stalks after Kyle. Ospreay sits Kyle, then DECKS him! And DECKS him! And DECKS him again! The fans fire up with Ospreay, and he scoops to SLAM! Ospreay goes up, but Kyle trips him! Ospreay lands on the bare buckle! Kyle has a bloody forehead now, but he still climbs up behind Ospreay. They both go to the top rope, but Ospreay fights with a headlock! Ospreay HEADBUTTS, then SMACKS Kyle off the cage’s corner post! And then again! And again!

Kyle falls back hard, and Ospreay takes aim! LEAP OF FAITH!! Cover, TWO!! Kyle survives and Ospreay’s surprised! Ospreay vows to end Kyle now and the fans fire up! Ospreay underhooks Kyle, but Kyle powers up to Alabama Lift! Ospreay grabs at the cage to get free, but Kyle trips Ospreay! Ospreay is stuck on the top rope, Kyle hits the CALF KICK! And then a lift, LAST RIDE!! Cover, TWO!?!? Ospreay survives and Kyle cannot believe it! “This is Awesome!” as both men are both a bloody mess, literally. Kyle reels Ospreay in, but neither man has much left. Kyle gives Ospreay some Kawada Kicks of his own!

The fans rally up as Kyle fires shot after shot, then KICKS for good measure! But Ospreay just stands up!? Kyle is admiring the blood painting his boot, but then he sees Ospreay grinning. Ospreay ROCKS Kyle, fires some KAWADA KICKS of his own, then lets Kyle fall back. Now Ospreay tastes the blood, but Kyle KICKS! Ospreay KICKS! The Kawada PUNTS continue back and forth! Kyle fires a flurry, but Ospreay ROCKS Kyle with a right! And then a ROLLING ELBOW! The fans fire up as Ospreay runs up, SUPERKICK form Kyle first! Kyle runs, Ospreay dodges! Kyle dodges, but Ospreay slips through the lariat!

Kyle slips out of the bomb, gets Ospreay up, but then blocks a rana! POWER- DDT!! Ospreay hurries to underhook, and he thinks on which one to do. STORM- NO, Kyle slips free! Suplex and BRAINBUSTER!! Cover, TWO!!! Fans hope these two “FIGHT FOREVER!” but wait! Mark Davis is headed out here, with a duffel bag full of goodies! Dunkzilla brings out BOLT CUTTERS, and he goes after the padlock! Davis cuts that lock away, then opens the door! Kyle nods, time for Aussie Open to end Ospreay! Davis gives Kyle a chair, then sends the bag in. Kyle thanks Davis, but then Ospreay CLOBBERS Kyle!

Ospreay dares Davis to bring it, so Davis storms up the steps! Ospreay BOOTS the door into Davis! Davis falls, and Ospreay looks inside the black bag. It has a bat wrapped in barbed wire!! The fans fire up as Ospreay takes aim, and he HOMERS Kyle in the gut! And then on the back!! And then Ospreay DIGS the wire into Kyle’s forehead!! The fans are thunderous for the savagery! Ospreay then takes aim, and says “BANG BANG!” a la Cactus Jack! Kyle says please don’t, but Ospreay says Kyle’s begging for mercy a little late. Wait, Kyle has the United Empire armband in his trunks? Kyle wants to put crowns up now?

The fans boo Kyle’s desperate attempt, but Ospreay FLIPS HIM OFF! Ospreay winds up, but Kyle LOW BLOWS Ospreay! Kyle grins, the cheap trick worked. Kyle takes the armband off, wipes the blood off his face with it, and he shoves it in Ospreay’s mouth!! The fans boo and tell Kyle he’s sick! Kyle takes “Barbie” for his own, then winds up. But Ospreay ducks it and HIDDEN BLADES!! Then underhooks for the STORM BREAKER!! Cover, DAVIS BREAKS IT! Davis is busted open, too, but he clamps on a SLEEPER!! The fans boo but Davis shoves Ospreay down! The ref and Davis argue, but no disqualifications means Davis can do what he wants!

Davis stands Kyle up and Aussie Open goes to Ospreay. Kyle says Ospreay asked for this, not him! Then Aussie Open gets Ospreay to his feet, and double pump handle, COREA- POISON RANA!! Osprey then throws a chair to Davis, FULL METAL HIDDEN BLADE!! Ospreay kicks Davis out of the ring, closes the door again, and the refs on the outside work to lock it again. But Kyle pops Ospreay up! Ospreay kicks him away, then uses the cage, SUPER DUPER OSCUTTER!!! Cover, TWO!?!?!? HOW?!?! Callis can breathe again, the fans lose their minds, and Ospreay crawls to “Barbie.” Ospreay takes that wire and wraps it around his elbow?!

Kyle tries to escape, but climbing doesn’t end this! Ospreay gets Kyle, almost pulls his trunks off, but Kyle found THE SCREWDRIVER! Kyle JABS it into Ospreay’s face!! Kyle licks the screwdriver, Callis plays innocent, but then Ospreay storms up. Kyle JABS Ospreay’s side! And then his back! Ospreay is in the corner, Kyle runs up, the screwdriver gets stuck in buckle pad! Roll up, deadlift, and STYLES- NO, Kyle UP KICKS! Cradle, roll through, BRAINBUSTER!! Kyle sits a chair up, he brings Ospreay over, FULL METAL BRAINBUSTER!!! Kyle crawls to cover, TWO?!?!?! How is Ospreay doing this?!?!

Kyle himself is furious, but the fans are thunderous! Kyle goes back to the bag, and he brings out a black bag! Kyle dumps that bag out, and yes, it is THUMBTACKS!! Kyle goes back to Ospreay, reels him in, and suplexes, but Ospreay blocks! Kyle fires more Kawada Kicks, then suplexes! Ospreay RANAS free, then high stacks, to deadlift! STYLES CLASH onto the tacks!!! All those tacks go into Kyle’s gut and groin! Cover, TWO?!?!? Kyle survives, but that only makes things hurt worse! The fans are losing their minds all over again, but Ospreay underhooks! STORM- NO, Kyle climbs the cage! Ospreay pursues, and he has the screwdriver?!?

Ospreay has it in his mouth like a pirate with a knife climbing the mast! Ospreay and Kyle fight over the screwdriver, fans chant, “Please Don’t Die!” Kyle and Ospreay trade headbutts, but Ospreay has the screwdriver! And he JABS Kyle in the head!! Then Ospreay looks down at the ring. The fans are going nuts already as Ospreay is bringing Kyle around to the inside. Callis is freaking out, too, as we get an ULTIMATE SPANISH FLY!!!! Both men are down and LA is erupting! Ospreay rises, and he throws off his elbow pad! Kyle sits up and shouts, “I HATE YOU! I HATE YOU!! I EFFIN HATE YOU!! I HATE YOU, YOU SON OF A-” HIDDEN BLADE!!!

Ospreay underhooks, for a STORM DRIVER!!!! Cover, OSPREAY WINS!!

Winner: Will Ospreay, by pinfall

Callis is absolutely stunned. Not only did both of his guys lose tonight, but this could’ve cost Kyle so much more than just a win. Ospreay looms over Kyle for just a moment before he hobbles away. Is this the end of the grudge? Can Ospreay finally move on from his past and head for a brighter future?

 

Schiavone interviews Ash Avildsen at ringside.

Schiavone asks Ash and the Queen of the Ring cast how they felt about that match from Toni. Ash says that was definitely an incredible Hollywood Ending. Give it up to the entire cast, Damaris Lewis & Kelli Burgland! Ash is grateful for the reviews, but he also wants to give the ladies what pro-wrestling has meant to them. Damaris says y’all know you’re gonna win before anyone else does. And Kelli says their move is for wrestling fans. They deserved a movie like this on the big screen, and it was an honor to play the women who laid the foundation for wrestling today. See it while you can!

 

AEW World Championship: Jon Moxley VS Adam Copeland!

There has never been a reign of terror quite like The Death Riders holding their titles hostage. But as things escalated, “The One True King” lost pawn after pawn night after night. Moxley claims he is still fighting for a greater good, for a brighter tomorrow, but it is only so that AEW reflects his philosophy. Cope wants to change all that, which is why he’s leading the revolution! Will things get Rated R with a NEW world champion? Or will The Maniac still drag AEW along this dangerous path?

The introductions are made, the belt briefcase is raised, and win, lose or draw, the Revolution ends!

The bell rings and the fans fire up as the two pace. They slowly step up, talk some last minute trash, and then Moxley flips Cope off! So Cope fires forearms! Moxley hits back, the fans rally as the shots go back and forth! The fans cheer Cope and boo Moxley, but neither man is backing down! Moxley hits, and Cope hits right back! Cope gives as quick as he gets, but then Moxley ROCKS Cope! Cope ROCKS Mox, but Mox DECKS Cope! Moxley says he’s gonna break Cope’s neck, but Cope ROCKS Moxley! And ROCKS him again! They go back and forth, even as they kneel! They ROCK each other with simultaneous shots!

Both men shake that off, stand back up, and then the forearms continue! Moxley talks trash even as he’s firing shots, but Cope is backing Moxley down! The fans fire up as the shots just keep going, and then both men slow down. Cope runs, but Moxley ROCKS him! Moxley reels Cope in, but Cope fights the lift! Moxley says that neck is done for, but Cope ROCKS and whips Moxley! Moxley stops himself, but Cope LARIATS him up and out! Cope builds speed, and he WRECKS Moxley with a dropkick! The fans fire up, Cope climbs a corner, and Cope SUPER CROSSBODIES! Direct hit and down goes Moxley!

Both men are down on the floor and the fans rally up. A ring count starts but Cope puts Moxley in the ring. Cope hurries after Moxley, but Moxley shoots around to SLEEPER! Cope endures, the fans rally, and Cope claws at the grip. Moxley spins Cope around, reels him in, but Cope fights the driver! Cope backs up, and he DUMPS Moxley out! Cope goes to the apron, and he FLYING LARIATS Moxley down! The fans rally up, and Cope has Moxley in a corner. Cope shakes out the stars, brings Moxley around, but Moxley POSTS Cope! Moxley then has Cope’s arms and YANKS him into the post! Moxley leaves Cope behind but the fans rally up.

Moxley talks trash to good ol’ JR, saying Cope’s career is coming full circle. JR helped Cope get his start, and now this is where it ends! The fans boo, but Moxley drags Cope up to ROCK him! Moxley SLAMS Cope against the railing again and again! Moxley stops to go into the ring, and he comes back out to refresh the ring count. Moxley stands Cope up, brings him around, and then puts Cope on the apron. Moxley grinds his elbow and forearm into Cope’s neck, then CLUBS him! The fans boo but Moxley just snarls and goes to the apron. Moxley drags Cope up, turns him, APRON NECKBREAKER! Moxley then drags Cope in for a cover, TWO!

Cope stays in this but Moxley stays on him. Moxley KNEES Cope in the back, then clamps on a neck wrench! Cope endures, the fans boo, but Moxley puts as much pressure as he can on the hold. Moxley thrashes Cope around, then runs to BOOT Cope down! Cope goes to the apron again but Moxley storms up on him. Moxley drags Cope up, puts him on the ropes, and he CHOKES Cope while also thrashing him around! The ref counts, Moxley tells him to shut up, but the ref says the count is the count! Moxley just flips the ref off, then goes back to Cope. Moxley fires crossface forearms in the ropes, then lets Cope flop over.

Moxley talks trash, the fans boo, but Moxley goes back to Cope to get the legs. Moxley drags Cope back to stomp him in the stomach! Moxley knees on Cope’s neck to choke him, but he steps off as the ref counts. Moxley drags Cope up, but Cope fires body shots. The fans rally but Moxley eggs him on. Cope fires more shots, but Moxley BOOTS him down! Moxley drops a knee on Cope’s back! Moxley pulls hair to pull Cope back, but the ref reprimands. Moxley stops, the ref warns Moxley this is not how they should end the match. The fans taunt and boo Moxley but he just puts Cope in a corner. Moxley then mocks Cope’s antics, and he runs up, but Cope dodges Moxley!

Cope rolls Moxley, TWO, and Moxley hits a CUTTER! Moxley couldn’t spear Cope but he did hit Cope with the Viper’s move. Wait, up in the skybox, The Opps are back! Hook is snacking on Funyuns but Samoa Joe is stone faced. Moxley reels Cope in, but Cope fights the lift! Cope wrenches, kicks, and IMPALER DDTS!! The fans fire up but Moxley gets up fast. Moxley shakes out the cobwebs while Cope crawls. The fans rally, a standing count starts, but Moxley drags Cope up at 3. Cope grabs at Moxley, fires a forearm, but there’s little there. Moxley eggs Cope on, SLAPS him, so Cope LARIATS! The fans cheer while both men are down!

A standing count starts again, and Moxley runs up on Cope! Cope hits a FLAPJACK! Cope runs to rally with LARIAT after LARIAT! The fans fire up as Cope dodges and hits a COPE-O-SETIC! Cover, TWO! Moxley stays in this but Cope brings Moxley up. Cope puts Moxley up top and the fans cheer him on. Cope ROCKS Moxley, climbs up after him, and he brings Moxley to the top for a SUPER DUPER PLEX! Cover, TWO! Moxley is tougher than that, and he grabs an arm! KIMURA, but Cope rolls through to CROSSFACE! Moxley endures, fights around, and reaches out! ROPEBREAK! Cope lets go quickly, and is a bit frustrated.

Moxley goes to the apron, slowly stands, and Cope runs in! Cope SPEARS Moxley to the floor! The fans fire up again as both men are down! Moxley sputters and coughs, a ring count starts, but Cope brings Moxley up. Cope whips, Moxley reverses, and Cope hits steel steps hard! The steps even go sliding away! Moxley says Cope is done for! “I’m gonna break it now! He’s going home in a wheelchair!” Moxley rips up the floor mats on the outside, exposing the hardwood underneath! Ken Jeong and many more fans are concerned, but Moxley storms over to Cope. Moxley drags Cope to the exposed portion, but Cope fights the lift!

Cope BACKDROPS Moxley onto the wood! Then Cope gets up to run in, but Moxley KICKS the spear down! CURB STOMP onto the hardwood!! Cope is dazed and Moxley grins, but the fans boo. The ref checks Cope, Moxley is making JR uncomfortable, but Moxley puts Cope in the ring. Moxley pushes Cope to a cover, TWO!! Moxley pushes Cope around again, and he fires down crossface forearms! BULLY CHOKE!! Cope fights up fast, shifts around, but Moxley changes things to reel Cope in! PILEDRIVER!! Cover, TWO!?!? Cope survives, but Moxley smothers him with a SLEEPER! Cope is turning red in the face already!

Moxley moves back into the BULLY CHOKE!! Cope endures, the fans rally, and Cope claws at the mat. Moxley pulls back as hard as he can but Cope is still fighting! Cope is fading! Cope is foaming at the mouth! The ref checks on Cope, the fans rally up more, and Cope finds a second wind! Moxley is shocked as Cope fights up! Cope reaches out, but he fades again! The fans rally harder, and Cope has one last gasp to find the ROPEBREAK!! Moxley holds on until 4! Moxley and the ref argue about the basic rules, and then Moxley shoves the ref! The ref tells Moxley he can lose the belt like that, try him! Moxley storms outside and goes to the timekeeper’s area.

Moxley grabs a chair, storms back into the ring, but the ref snatches the chair! The ref won’t let Moxley do what he wants! Cope O’Conner Rolls, but the ref is busy with the chair! Moxley kicks out and sends Cope into the ref! The ref tumbles out, Moxley kicks low! PARADIGM SHIFT!! The fans boo while Moxley shakes out his arms. Moxley sees there is no law and order now, so he gets two chairs! Moxley puts one under Cope, and he has the other in his hands! The fans boo as they know what Moxley wants! CON-CHAIR- NO, Cope UP KICKS the chair into Moxley’s face! Both men are down, but Moxley flounders over to ropes.

Moxley stands, but Cope follows! IMPA- NO, Moxley wrenches out! But Cope avoids the Paradigm Shift! Both men run to DOUBLE LARIAT! The fans cheer, but then they boo as they spot Wheeler Yuta storming out here! Is The Decoder returning to The Death Riders? Or is he going to stand up for himself? He aims at both men, only to BUSAIKU KNEE Cope!! The fans boo as Yuta is a completely whipped lap god! Moxley says he’s proud of Yuta, though, and says it is time to end this. Yuta grabs the title briefcase, slides it in for Moxley, but here comes JAY WHITE! The Switchblade promised to have Cope’s back, so here he is!

White goes after Yuta, the fans fire up, but Moxley runs up! White KICKS Mox, takes the case, but then Mox ducks! The briefcase CLOBBERS Cope!!! White is stunned, but then Yuta drags White out to THROW him into barriers! Yuta fires off on White, these two brawl to the back, but Moxley drags Cope to a cover! The ref finally returns and counts, but it’s so slow! TWO!!!! Cope survives thanks to the slow pace, and Moxley is beside himself! Moxley storms around in a rage, and then he gets in the ref’s face! They argue, but Cope SPEARS Moxley!!! Cover, TWO?!?! Moxley survives, Cope is seething, but the fans rally up again!

Cope goes to a corner, he roars, and he takes aim at Moxley. SPEAR!! But Cope won’t leave it to just that! Cope has that wild look in his eyes, and he runs in again! SPEAR!!! Cover, but CHRISTIAN CAGE yanks the ref out!!! And then he tells the ref HE’S CASHING IN!!! SMACK to Cope!!! Christian writes today’s date on his contract, so here we go!!

Casino Gauntlet Contract Cash-In, AEW World Championship Triple Threat: Jon Moxley VS Adam Copeland VS Christian Cage!

A TRIPLE THREAT!? SPEAR FROM CHRISTIAN TO COPE!!! Cover, TWO?!?! Cope survives, Christian is furious, but the ref defends his count! Christian just chicken wings Cope, for the KILLSWITCH!!! Cover, MOXLEY BREAKS IT! BULLY CHOKE ON CHRISTIAN!!! Christian flails, endures, but he covers Cope! TWO as Moxley YANKS Christian away! Moxley SQUEEZES Christian until he’s purple! Christian tries one more time, but he can’t cover Cope, he’s OUT!! Moxley wins!!

Winner: Jon Moxley, by submission (still AEW World Champion)

The Maniac’s reign of terror was never closer to ending than right here tonight, if not for Captain Charisma making himself a part of it. Christian ends up Moxley’s sacrifice for the greater good, whether anyone likes it or not. But wait, Prince Nana finds Moxley and tells him guess who’s coming. Security rushes over to keep things from getting physical, but wait! UP ON THE LEDGE! Swerve is perched like a hawk, and he DIVES in!! Swerve wipes out Moxley and all of security! The fans are thunderous for “SWERVE’S HOUSE!” Will the Realest, the Most Dangerous Man in AEW, prove he’s also the rightful AEW World Champion?

---

My Thoughts:

A great Revolution, and would’ve been awesome if they just rethought some of that main event. For one, the match was more of a grind out than anything. I suppose after how hot everything else tonight was, that couldn’t be helped. And it was disappointing that Yuta just chose to stick with Moxley, but it did give White his reason for coming out. I honestly would’ve taken White costing Cope with that briefcase mishap than what we got. Because while I was glad they did have Christian Cage attempt his cash-in, they did that wrong. Making this a Triple Threat just so Christian can lose when he was not beat up at all, that’s garbage.

Granted, whatever Heel was going to be champion, whether Christian or Moxley, the fans can now all rally behind Swerve without question. Swerve VS Ricochet was a great match to not just name a contender but to get the Embassy Robe back. Swerve is back on the rise, we will see him continue the fight against the Death Riders that Cope and others did, and I could imagine a part of the story being Swerve learning to work with unlikely allies like Cope, Jay White, maybe even Will Ospreay or a returning Darby Allin. Team ups like that were all teased before they wrote Darby Allin off TV, so it’d be fitting that he returns as the catalyst for an AEW Avengers moment.

Hangman Page could also find himself in that mix, as he’ll want the world title again at some point. Hangman VS MJF was an awesome opener, and surprisingly stiff at some points. But Hangman getting the win was the right move, as it proves Hangman is the anti-hero the fans are right to support over MJF. The Zero Hour matches were also great, for the most part. It makes sense the Faces won their matches, but it’s a bummer that Gravity was only given a title match as an excuse to get The Learning Tree to beat him and Bandido up in front of a bigger audience than ROH on Honor Club.

Hobbs not rescuing them and helping thwart the Don Callis Family was rather odd. At the same time, this is Hobbs getting back to a story with the Don Callis Family so that he can get his revenge on them like we saw Omega and Ospreay do tonight. Which is surprising that both of those things happened, but maybe that’s a blowoff for them with the Don Callis Family. Omega becoming a Grand Slam Champion in AEW is great stuff, and very deserved. Not because Omega helped found AEW but because he is that good, and he overcame some serious stuff in his life.

Okada VS Brody was very good stuff, but I figured Okada would win that. Same goes for Mone VS Momo, with Mone retaining in a great match. Billie watching and taking notes was a nice background detail, and I am sure she’ll step up next with Dynasty in only a month. At the same time, it’d be interesting if there was some shirt in the relationship between Billie and Athena where Athena wants the match with Mone come All In: Texas. And if they go with what I was thinking, it could be for all the belts, or at least both the AEW TBS and ROH Women’s titles so that one way or another, the status of ROH is elevated by whoever is the winner.

It was also clear The Outrunners were losing, but the start was a bit clunky. And why is The Cru watching ringside? Like, not to be mean to Lio & Action, but they’re not even beating just Lashley or just Shelton. Maybe instead, The Cru wants to join up with the Hurt Syndicate? Maybe represent them in ROH and get those tag titles from Dustin Rhodes & Sammy Guevara? That’d be a good option to me.

And then the bloodiest matches, the best matches, the ones that should’ve been the real main event, were Toni Storm VS Mariah and Ospreay VS Fletcher. The Hollywood Ending had an awkward plug for The Queen of the Ring that went better in the Zero Hour than it did here, but whatever, celebrities that only just got into wrestling don’t count for much. Toni and Mariah went hard, like they were working to outdo everything Swerve and Hangman did in their rivalry all on one night. The same could be said for Ospreay VS Fletcher, and they went even harder after seeing how hard Toni and Mariah went. Both great wins for the Faces, both Toni and Ospreay are now moving on to new stories, and that will be some great stuff for both of them.

My Score: 9/10

Will the New Japan Cup still be tranquilo?

The New Japan Cup rolls on without delay! But will Tetsuya Naito still take his time against Callum Newman? Or will he be lapped by the Prince of Pace?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Kickoff – YOSHI-HASHI & Toru Yano VS Katsuya Murashima & Daiki Nagai; Hashi & Yano win.
• Yuya Uemura & Taka Michinoku VS SANADA & Chase Owens; Sanada & Chase win.
• Six Man Tag: TMDK VS The United Empire; TMDK wins.
• Six Man Tag: Bullet Club War Dogs VS House of Torture; War Dogs win.
• Six Man Tag: Los Ingobernables de Japon VS House of Torture; House of Torture wins.
• 2025 New Japan Cup Opening Round: Boltin Oleg VS Bad Luck Fale; Oleg wins and advances.
• 2025 New Japan Cup Opening Round: El Phantasmo VS Great-O-Khan; Khan wins and advances.
• 2025 New Japan Cup Opening Round: Tomohiro Ishii VS “Drilla” Moloney; Drilla wins and advances.
• 2025 New Japan Cup Opening Round: Tetsuya Naito VS Callum Newman; Naito wins and advances.
• Hirooki Goto & Hiroshi Tanahashi VS Yuji Nagata & Satoshi Kojima; Goto & Tanahashi win.

PLAY BY PLAY

2025 New Japan Cup Opening Round: Boltin Oleg VS Bad Luck Fale!

This is quite literally the biggest match of the tournament as two big meaty men are about to collide! But will the Rogue General be put behind BARS? Or will he bust through with a Grenade?

The bell rings and they RAM shoulders! Oleg runs, RAMS Fale, but Fale doesn’t fall! Oleg goes again, and RAMS Fale! Fale eggs Oleg on, so Oleg CHOPS! Oleg runs, ducks ‘n’ dodges, and he CLOBBERS Fale right out of the ring! The fans fire up and Oleg eggs Fale on. Fale snarls as he gets back up, and he drags Oleg out of the ring! Fale fires body shots, then whips Oleg hard into railing! Commentary almost topples over! Fale storms up on Oleg, talks some smack, then stomps Oleg. Fale drags Oleg up to BODY BLOW! Oleg sputters but Fale brings him up. And he RAMS Oleg into the railing! Milano Collection AT almost loses his table!

Fale storms back into the ring while Oleg crawls. The ring count climbs, Fale salutes, but Oleg stands at 5 of 20. Oleg hobbles along, slides in, but Fale stomps him down at the ropes! Fale stands on Oleg’s chest! The ref counts, but Fale steps off at 4. Fale drags Oleg up, but Oleg fires body shots! Fale BODY BLOWS in return! Fale CLUBS Oleg, then CLUBS him again! Oleg crawls, but Fale brings him up to bump off buckles. Fale fires another BODY BLOW! Fale CHOKES Oleg in the corner, but stops as the ref reprimands. Oleg fires body shots and CHOPS in return, but Fale CHOPS Oleg down! Cover, TWO! The fans cheer as Oleg stays in this.

Oleg crawls, the fans rally behind him, and Oleg stands to fire forearms. Fale throat chops! Fale DECKS Oleg, then drags him from the ropes. Fale flips Oleg over, then steps on him! Fale hangs ten on Oleg’s back! Fale then steps off to stand Oleg up, but Oleg fires forearms again! Oleg backs Fale down, goes to scoop, but Fale might be too big even for Oleg! Fale CLUBS away, puts Oleg in a corner, then LARIATS again and again! The ref counts, Fale stops at five big lariats, then whips corner to corner. Fale runs up, but Oleg dodges! Oleg then scoops, and he gets Fale off his feet! But not for long as Fale fights free!

Fale scoops and SLAMS Oleg! Fale then runs to ELBOW FLOP as Oleg moves! The fans fire up as both men rise up. Oleg SCOOPS AND SLAMS Fale!! The fans are thunderous and Oleg runs, runs, and SPLASHES DOWN! Cover, TWO! Fale survives but Oleg throws off the elbow pads. The fans rally behind Oleg as he gut wrenches!? Oleg hauls Fale up, but Fale’s too big for that kind of lift! Oleg CLUBS away on Fale’s back, but Fale grabs Oleg by the neck! Oleg breaks free to ROCK and CHOP Fale! Oleg runs, but into a fireman’s carry! SAMOAN DROP! Both men are down but Fale rises. The fans rally, but Fale runs to ELBOW DROP! Cover, TWO!!

Oleg survives and the fans fire up! Fale is frustrated, but he vows to end this. Fale stands Oleg up, has him by the neck, and he arms the- NO, Oleg SHOTGUNS the Grenade away! And then fireman’s carries?!? KAMIKAZE!!! Cover, Oleg wins!!

Winner: Boltin Oleg, by pinfall (advances to the next round)

The bigger they are, the harder they fall, and that was certainly the case here! Oleg made big waves in the G1 Climax, will he make the biggest splash here in the New Japan Cup?

 

2025 New Japan Cup Opening Round: El Phantasmo w/ Jado VS Great-O-Khan!

The Headbanga’s team won against the United Empire just yesterday, but now he and The Dominator go 1v1! Will the NJPW World Television Champion be the star of the show? Or will the last KOPW Champion change the channel?

The bell rings and the fans rally up. They duel between “E L P! E L P!” and “O-KHAN! O-KHAN!” The Khan side seems stronger, but ELP gets his side going again. The two step up with arms crossed, then they feel out a grapple. They clinch, ELP headlocks, but Khan slips around to a waistlock. Khan keeps ELP down with a headlock but ELP slips out to facelock. Khan slips out, wants an arm, but ELP facelocks again. They go around as Khan goes for legs, but ELP stays on top. They end up in the ropes, and the ref calls the break. Khan lets go and rolls away, which the fans cheer. ELP rolls to get in Khan’s face and the fans cheer more!

Khan and ELP reset, tie up collar ‘n’ elbow, then Khan headlocks. ELP fires body shots, then powers up and out. Khan RUNS ELP over! Khan poses, but ELP kicks him from below. Khan stomps ELP, runs, but ELP drops down, then DROPKICKS! The fans cheer and ELP brings Khan up. ELP CHOPS Khan, has him in a corner, and CHOPS again! Fans “WOO~!” with ELP, then he whips corner to corner. Khan reverses, ELP goes up and over, ducks ‘n’ dodges, then springboards, but into Khan’s arms! BACKBREAKER! Khan poses and the fans cheer. Khan stomps ELP around, then clamps on with a chinlock. ELP endures, fights around, and the fans rally.

Khan grabs ELP’s arm and pulls it back, while also having a headscissors! ELP kicks around, rolls back, but Khan just shifts his angle! ELP rolls again, ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer and Khan lets go again. ELP catches his breath while Khan looms near. ELP CHOPS, but Khan brushes that off. Khan eggs ELP on, so ELP CHOPS again! Khan grits his teeth, but then ELP ROCKS him with a forearm! And another! And another! Khan claps to fake ELP out, then he trips ELP up! Khan stands ELP up to run and BLINDSIDE FOREARM! Khan rains down more shots to the back of ELP’s neck! ELP guards but then Khan turns him over for forearms to the face!

Khan lets off and the ref checks on ELP. ELP goes to a corner so he’s still in this. Khan drags him up, ROCKS him in the back, and then stands him up. Khan hops up to sit on his throne! The fans cheer while ELP flails. The ref reprimands but Khan pulls on ELP’s arms! Khan hops down as the ref counts, and Khan brings ELP around for Mongolian Chops! Khan drags ELP to a cover, ONE! Khan clamps onto ELP with a katagatame! ELP endures the head ‘n’ arm triangle, reaches out and kicks around, but Khan leans all his weight on ELP! The fans rally, Khan turns ELP away from ropes, and now it’s a standing triangle!

ELP CLUBS away on Khan’s back and is free! ELP KNEES low, then LARIATS! Khan stays standing, so ELP LARIATS again! Khan is still up, so ELP runs, only for Khan to dodge! ELP dodges back, and RANAS! Khan tumbles, the fans fire up, and ELP runs to LARIAT Khan up and out! The fans rally as Khan hits the floor! ELP builds speed, and he DIVES! Direct hit at the ramp! The fans fire up again as ELP rises. ELP shakes out his arms, storms back to Khan, and drags him up to whip into railing! Khan hobbles forward, into a CHOP! ELP brings Khan up again, and whips him into more railing! Khan drops to his knees in front of commentary.

The fans rally up as Khan gets back to his feet, only for ELP to CHOP again! Khan flops back down, but ELP stands him back up. ELP SMACKS Khan off the apron, then shoves him aside. ELP goes up the corner, the fans rally up, and ELP is on the very top! The fans spell out “E! L! P!” ARIHARA MOONSAULT! Khan moves, ELP rolls through, but Khan scoops him! Khan hits a T T D on the floor!! Khan stares Hiroyoshi Tenzan down on commentary, having used Tenzan’s Tombstone Driver right in front of him! The fans fire up and rally while the ring count begins. Khan and ELP stir at 4 of 20, and slowly sit up at 9!

ELP and Khan stand, but only Khan gets in at 12! ELP flops back, but he rises back up at 15! ELP leans against the ring, but falls over! He flounders, springs back up, and is in at 19.9999!! Khan doesn’t even care, he just BOOTS ELP back down! Khan clamps on the IRON CLAW, and he vows to end this! ELIMINA- NO, ELP wheelbarrows and victory rolls through! TWO!! ELP fakes high, rolls Khan up again, TWO!! ELP hurries to hook the arms, but Khan fights the backslide! ELP powers Khan down into the cover, TWO!!! Khan escapes, but ELP hurries up! Mule kick, and then a front kick! But Khan BOOTS again! ELP ENZIGIRIS!

Both men are down and the fans fire up with ELP! ELP rises, he brings Khan up, and he straitjackets Khan into the torture rack! But ELP’s back isn’t letting him lift! Khan slips free, and has the IRON CLAW! ELP breaks free to ROCK Khan! ELP ROCKS Khan again, but Khan just eggs him on! Then he DECKS ELP with the IRON RIGHT!! Khan reels ELP in, and clamps on the HITSUJIGOROSHI!! Then IRON CLAW into the ELIMI- NO, ELP flips through! ELP ducks, goes up and up, FLYING TORNADO DDT! Khan flounders, ELP hurries to cover, TWO!! Khan survives and the fans fire up! Jado coaches ELP and ELP tunes up the band!

ELP watches Khan rises, and hits SUDDEN DEATH!! Cover, TWO?!?! Khan survives and the fans are thunderous! ELP feeds off that energy and vows to end this! ELP brings Khan up, but his arms really bother him. ELP still hooks Khan up, lifts, but the shoulder won’t let him! Khan clinches, COMPLETE SHOT! And then the IRON CLAW, for the ELIMINATOR!!! Cover, Khan wins!!

Winner: Great-O-Khan, by pinfall (advances to the next round)

The Headbanga’s close calls kept adding up, and in the end, he was eliminated! Will Khan keep an eye on the NJPW World Television Championship now that he has the golden ticket in his back pocket? Or will he stay completely focused on the New Japan Cup?

 

2025 New Japan Cup Opening Round: Tomohiro Ishii VS “Drilla” Moloney!

It’s a dog fight tonight as the Stone Pitbull takes on one of the War Dogs! Will Ishii bite the Bullet Club? Or will he be shot down by the 44 Caliber?

The bell rings and the fans rally up as these two step right up to center. Drilla fires a forearm, and another, but Ishii leans into them! Ishii backs Drilla down like that, then he starts throwing forearms! But now Drilla leans into them, and he backs Ishii down! The forearms go back and forth and the fans fire up! Ishii ROCKS Drilla, fires a flurry, then runs to RAM Drilla! Drilla flexes, but Ishii fires a flurry! Drilla ROCKS Ishii, then runs, but Ishii RUNS him over! The fans cheer, but then Drilla kips up! Drilla ROCKS Ishii, runs, and he RAMS Ishii! Ishii rebounds, Drilla hurdles, drops down, then DROPKICKS!

The fans fire up and Drilla stands tall. The dueling between “I-SHI-I” and “MO-LO-NEY!” gets going as Drilla stands Ishii up. Drilla CHOPS Ishii, goes to ropes, and CHOPS him again! Ishii leans against the ropes but Drilla bumps him off buckles. Drilla stomps Ishii, CLUBS Ishii, then digs his boots into Ishii. The ref counts, Drilla steps off, but then Drilla stomps Ishii more. Ishii eggs Drilla on so Drilla stomps him even harder! Drilla stands Ishii up to CHOP! Drilla snapmares Ishii, KICKS him in the back, then covers. TWO and the fans cheer. Drilla is annoyed but he keeps his eyes on Ishii. Drilla brings Ishii around to bump off buckles!

Ishii snarls at Drilla, but Drilla CHOPS him again! Drilla eggs Ishii on, CHOPS again, then CHOPS again! Ishii eggs Drilla on now! Drilla ROCKS and CHOPS Ishii much like Ishii would, then Drilla whips corner to corner. Ishii reverses, runs up, but Drilla BOOTS him! Ishii comes back, but Drilla puts Ishii up top! GAMANGIRI and a RUNNING POWERSLAM! Cover, TWO! Ishii stays in this, but Drilla looms over him. Drilla stands Ishii up to CHOP! And CHOP! Drilla winds up to CHOP! Ishii just roars! Ishii blocks a kick, takes a swing, but Drilla shoves him into a corner! BLINDSIDE LARIAT! Drilla runs, but into Ishii’s SNAP POWERSLAM!

Both men are down and the fans rally up again. Ishii rises and waits on Drilla. Ishii runs up to LARIAT! Ishii whips, Drilla reverses, and Drilla ELBOWS Ishii! Drilla reels Ishii in, but it’s Ishii who suplexes first! Ishii sits up and the fans fire up again. Ishii looms over Drilla, kicks him to a corner, then CHOPS! And CHOPS! And CHOPS! ROCK and CHOP, on repeat! Drilla fires a forearm, but Ishii DECKS Drilla! The fans fire up again while Ishii leans on the ropes. Ishii drags Drilla up, hoists him to the top rope, then climbs up after him! The fans rally for the SUPERPLEX! But Drilla’s right up!? Drilla runs up to LARIAT, but Ishii stays up!

Ishii ROCKS Drilla, then they DOUBLE LARIAT! They stay up, Ishii swings but Drilla dodges! Drilla GERMAN SUPLEXES! Ishii’s right up to CLOBBER Drilla! Drilla’s right up to BOOT Ishii! Ishii runs, but into a GORE!! The fans fire up while both men are down again! Drilla stands, and he storms over to Ishii. Drilla drags Ishii up, waistlocks, and he deadlifts Ishii! Ishii resists the lift, so Drilla ripcords him! Ishii ducks the chop, but so does Drilla! Drilla SUPERKICKS, then he BOOTS a lariat away! Ishii spins to SOUTHPAW LARIAT! Drilla stays up, and he ENZIGIRIS! Ishii falls and the fans fire up!

Drilla pounds the mat, the fans rally up, and Drilla runs as Ishii rises. GORE is stuffed!? Ishii lifts Drilla, Drilla fights free, but Ishii HEADBUTTS!! The fans are thunderous again and Ishii winds up! Drilla rises, Ishii runs, LARIAT! Drilla stays up!? Ishii dodges Drilla, but Drilla LARIATS on the return! Drilla goes to a corner, the fans fire up, and Drilla runs in. Ishii KNEES Drilla first! Then fires boxing elbows! Ishii runs, into a SPINEBUSTER! Cover, TWO! Ishii survives and the fans fire up again! Drilla snarls, the fans bark for the War Dog, and Drilla drags Ishii up. Drilla vows to end this, and he lifts, but Ishii fights back!

Ishii Alabama Lifts! But Drilla fights it for a SPIKE PILEDRIVER! And then a GORE!!! Cover, TWO?!?! Ishii survives all that and the fans are thunderous! And this is just ten minutes in! Drilla grits his teeth, drags himself up, and he roars! The fans bark again as Drilla stalks Ishii. Drilla brings Ishii up, gut wrenches, but Ishii fights free! Ishii blocks a superkick, gets around and GERMAN SUPLEXES! Both men are down again and the fans rally up! Ishii crawls to a corner, and he fires up by headbutting the buckles! Ishii aims, runs in, but Drilla JABS! JABS! ROLLING ELBOW! Ishii falls, Drilla steadies himself, and then Drilla fires up!

Drilla hauls Ishii up, military presses, and SNAKE EYES! Drilla runs, but Ishii LARIATS!! Ishii sits Drilla up, for the SLIDING LARIAT!! Cover, TWO?!?! Drilla survives but Ishii roars again! Ishii suplexes, but Drilla knees free! Drilal wrenches, Ishii spins him, but Drilla scoops! And he flips Ishii around!? DRILLA- NO, Ishii slips free to SLIDING HEADBUTT!! The fans are thunderous as Ishii stands! Ishii waits on Drilla, then he runs, to LARIAT!!! Cover, TWO?!?!?! Drilla survives and the fans are thunderous again! Ishii drags Drilla back up, suplexes again, but Drilla slips free! Ripcord, SUPERKICK! Ishii swings, but into a suplex! BRAINBUSTER!!! Cover, ONE?!?!?!?!

The fans are erupting and Drilla gets moving! But Ishii GORES!?!? Cover, ONE!?!?!? These guys aren’t human, they’ve got that dog in them! Ishii runs up, but so does Drilla! DOUBLE LARIATS! Ishii SLAPS, Drilla SLAPS, Ishii SLAPS and ENZIGIRIS! Drilla rebounds to V-TRIGGER! And then gut wrench, DRILLA KILLA!!!! Cover, DRILLA WINS!!!

Winner: “Drilla” Moloney, by pinfall (advances to the next round)

These two fought like animals, and but the young and hungry Drilla took the win! Will Drilla continue to eat the bracket alive until he’s drinking from The Cup?

 

2025 New Japan Cup Opening Round: Tetsuya Naito VS Callum Newman!

The opening round wraps up as these two meet again from the G1 Climax. The Uncontrollable Charisma won then, will he win now? Or will the Prince of Pace kick it up to a new gear for the New Japan Cup?

As usual, Naito takes his time with his entrance attire. Callum knows to keep cool or it’ll just take even longer. The pants are put aside and the bell rings. The fans rally behind Naito as he and Callum slowly circle. They tie up, Callum rolls Naito up, TWO! Oklahoma Roll, TWO! Naito ducks a kick to give a kick! Naito fires hands, then whips, but Callum ducks ‘n’ dodges and keeps moving to then BOOT Naito down! The fans cheer that impressive speed, and Callum walks over to Naito. Cover, TWO! Naito stands but Callum fires a forearm. Naito fires back, so Callum fires again. They fire more forearms back and forth and the fans rally up.

Callum fires a flurry, but Naito SPITS at him! The fans cheer, but Callum CHOPS! Callum whips, Naito grabs ropes to stop, and Naito BOOTS back. Callum runs up but Naito puts him on the apron! HOTSHOT! Naito then goes out after Callum and whips him hard into railing! Callum flops over and clutches his ribs, but Naito brings him back up. Naito whips Callum into more railing, and Callum falls right to the floor! Naito leaves Callum behind for the ring count to handle. Callum rises at 6 of 20, stands at 10, but needs to catch his breath. Callum rolls in at 16, but Naito stomps Callum’s leg! Callum scrambles away to a corner, clutching the knee.

Callum hobbles away, Naito storms after him, and he KICKS the leg again! Callum bails out, the ref checks on him, and Callum shakes the leg out. Callum insists he can still go, but Naito mockingly asks for a knuckle lock. Naito kicks the bad leg, then whips Callum to ropes. Callum manages to return, but Naito hits an atomic drop, then he dropkicks the legs out! Naito grabs the legs, ties then up, MODIFIED FIGURE FOUR! Callum scrambles to the ROPEBREAK! The ref counts, the fans cheer, and Naito lets go cleanly. Callum clutches the bad knee, but Naito drags him up. Callum CHOPS, but Naito doesn’t flinch.

Callum stands to fire forearms, but Naito kicks the bad leg! Naito fires those heavy back elbows, and kicks the leg, but then Callum ducks a shot! Callum gets around for a BIG back suplex1 Both men are down and the fans rally up. Naito goes to a corner, Callum runs up, and Callum forearm SMASHES! Callum snapmares and basement DROPKICKS! Cover, TWO! Callum keeps going, and he PENALTY KICKS! Cover, TWO! The fans rally up while Callum shakes out the bad leg. Callum has his fans get louder, then he clamps onto Naito with chicken wings. Naito fights the lift, and he RAMS Callum into a corner.

Callum runs up but Naito ELBOWS him! Naito kicks the leg, whips, and HIP TOSSES! Then he basement DROPKICKS Callum! Callum scrambles away to ropes but Naito is on him again. Naito whips Callum, but Callum’s leg barely lets him get there. Naito runs in, Callum goes up and over, but the leg jams! Naito DROPKICKS the leg! Naito turns Callum over, KNEEBAR CALF KILLER HYBRID! Callum endures, reaches out, and almost gives in! Callum fights his way forward, drags Naito along, and has the ROPEBREAK! The ref counts, Naito thrashes before letting go, and the fans continue to rally up.

Naito stomps Callum’s bad leg, stomps it again, then he stands Callum up for those heavy back elbows! And KICKS to the leg! Naito picks Callum apart as he puts him in the corner. Naito then goes up, reels Callum in, ESPERANZA! The fans cheer while Callum is down, but Naito wants him to rise up! The fans rally up, Callum slowly rises, and Naito runs in, but Callum denies Destino! Callum suplexes, Naito knees free, and Naito ENZIGIRIS! Callum PENALTY KICKS! Naito is up but Callum BOOTS him! Callum then hooks Naito up, for AOI- DESTINO!! Cover, TWO!! Naito almost had Callum there but Callum survives!

The fans rally as we pass ten minutes, and Naito drags Callum up. Naito wrenches, but now Callum fires heavy elbows! Callum hobbles away, runs back up, but into the SPINEBUSTER! Naito then wrenches and DESTI- NO, Callum FLAPJACKS Naito away! Callum whips, Naito reverses, and TORNADO DDT, but Callum handsprings through!? Callum springboards, but Naito dodges! Naito comes back, CORRIENDO SHIKI CRADLE!! NAITO WINS!!

Winner: Tetsuya Naito, by pinfall (advances to the next round)

Callum can’t believe it, but he got caught with a quick one! Now Naito moves on, but he’s running into Jeff Cobb next round! Will Naito keep things tranquilo? Or will he take a Tour of the Islands?

 

Hirooki Goto & Hiroshi Tanahashi VS Yuji Nagata & Satoshi Kojima!

The Fierce Warrior and The Ace added the final chapter to their rivalry on the 53rd Anniversary Event, and now they begin a new chapter. Hontai and Chaos are now one, but this is no mere exhibition match. Blue Justice has one more shot at the gold, will he and the King of Bread stand tall? Or will Goto prove he is worthy of everything Tanahashi is entrusting him with?

The teams sort out and after Tanahashi shows off the abs, we get Goto and Nagata. The fans cheer this title match preview, and the dueling begins! “GO-TO-O!” and “NA-GA-TA!” sound pretty even as the two tie up. Goto wrenches an arm but Nagata wrenches back. Nagata wrenches again, wristlocks, then wrenches yet again. Goto rolls, wrenches, hammerlocks, then puts Nagata on ropes. Red Shoes calls the break, both men let go slowly, but still wary of the other. Goto pats Nagata on the shoulder, but Nagata SLAPS Goto! Goto kicks Nagata and they fire forearms back and forth! Goto ROCKS Nagata, headlocks, but Nagata powers out.

Goto RUNS Nagata over, but Nagata avoids the elbow! Goto avoids the kick, and the fans cheer the standoff. Goto and Nagata tag Tanahashi and Kojima. The fans cheer and duel here, too. Tanahashi and Kojima circle, feel things out, then tie up collar ‘n’ elbow. They’re in a deadlock, then they break. They circle again, tie up, and Tanahashi waistlocks. Kojima wrenches to a wristlock, but Tanahashi wrenches back! Tanahashi headlocks for the takeover, Kojima headscissors, but Tanahashi kips free! Fans cheer as Tanahashi plays air guitar. The two reset, then tie up again. Kojima powers Tanahashi to the ropes, then CHOPS!

Tanahashi gets fired up and he CHOSP! They CHOP back and forth, the fans fire up, and then Tanahashi fires a strike fest! Tanahashi whips, but Kojima RUNS Tanahashi over! And the pecs dance! The fans cheer because Kojima’s still got it! Kojima runs up, but Tanahashi ELBOWS him away! Then CROSSBODY! The fans cheer, Tanahashi gets his pecs to dance! Tanahashi tags Goto, they double whip Kojima to ropes, but he ducks their lariats! Kojima sends Goto into Tanahashi, then kicks and DDTS Goto! Then a kick and DDT for Tanahashi! The fans rally up, and Kojima tags in Nagata.

Nagata kicks and CLUBS Goto, but Goto CHOPS! Nagata and Goto go forearm for forearm, then Nagata kicks low! Nagata KICKS and KICKS Goto to a corner, then ROCKS him with a forearm. Nagata whips corner to corner, runs up and BOOTS, then he snapmares to KICK Goto in the back! Nagata drags Goto up, wrenches his arm, and hits an ELBOW BREAKER! Goto clutches the arm but Nagata stays on him. Nagata wrenches, he tags Kojima, and they mug Goto. They double whip Goto to ropes, then DOUBLE SHOULDER TACKLE! The fans cheer, Kojima DECKS Tanahashi for good measure, then stomps Goto.

The fans rally as Kojima stomps Goto. Kojima fires a forearm, Goto fires back, repeat. Goto DECKS Nagata for good measure! Goto and Kojima trade shots again, the fans rally up, and Kojima ROCKS Goto! And ROCKS him again! Goto ends up in the corner, the fans fire up, and Kojima digs his knee in. Kojima tells Red Shoes to shut up, but he still lets off at the count of 4. Tag to Nagata and he stomps Goto. Nagata wrenches Goto to an ELBOW BREAKER! Goto drops to his knees and Nagata looms over him. Nagata KICKS Goto, and KICKS, and KICKS again! Goto blocks to CLUB the leg! Goto fires forearms, but Nagata fires back!

Nagata whips corner to corner but Goto reverses! Nagata comes back to BOOT! Nagata runs, Goto follows and LARIATS! Both men are down and the fans fire back up! Goto crawls, hot tag to Tanahashi! Tanahashi runs to FLYING FOREARM Nagata! Tanahashi DECKS Kojima in return for earlier! Tanahashi fires fast hands on Nagata, then scoops and SLAMS him down! Tanahashi goes up, SUNSET SENTON! Cover, TWO! Nagata stays in this but Tanahashi stays focused. The fans rally up as Tanahashi waits on Nagata. Nagata rises, Tanahashi runs, SLING- NO, Nagata ducks that, then clinches Tanahashi for an EXPLODER!

Nagata tags Kojima and he storms up on Tanahashi. Kojima fires off the MACHINE GUN CHOPS in the corner! The fans fire up as Kojima has an extra big helping for Tanahashi here! Kojima whips corner to corner, runs up, and hits the forearm SMASH! “Icchauzo Bakayaro!” The fans fire up, Kojima climbs up, and he COZY ELBOW DROPS! Cover, TWO! Tanahashi is still in this but Kojima stays focused. The fans rally as Kojima fires forearms on Tanahashi, then ROLLING- SHOTEI from Tanahashi! Kojima falls, Tanahashi drops to his knees, and the fans rally up. Hot tag to Goto and he RAMS Kjima! And DECKS Nagata!

Goto stomps Kojima in a corner, whips corner to corner, then runs up to MURAMASA! And then SAIDO! Cover, TWO! The fans rally up and Goto brings Kojima up. Kojima fights the fireman’s carry with elbows, then he kicks and COZY CUTTERS! The fans fire up and Kojima throws off the elbow pad! Kojima runs, Goto ducks and returns to LARIAT! The fans fire up with Goto and he waits on Kojima. Kojima rises, Goto runs, DOUBLE LARIATS collide! And it’s Kojima who stays standing! Kojima fires up, but Tanahashi dropkicks the legs out! Nagata storms in and BOOTS Tanahashi! Nagata stomps Goto, Red shoes reprimands, but Kojima goes to get Tanahashi.

Nagata has Goto in one corner, Kojima with Tanahashi in the other. They whip, but Tanahashi and Goto both counter! Fireman’s carries, STEREO USHIGOROSHI!! The fans fire up and Goto has Kojima. Goto dragon sleepers, but Kojima fights through to suplex! Goto slips free and waistlocks, but Kojima elbows free! Only to swing into the URA G T R! And then a LARIAT! The fans fire up as Goto takes aim, BUZZSAW! Goto then hauls Kojima up while Tanahashi RAMS Nagata into railing! True G T R!! Cover, Goto & Tanahashi win!

Winners: Hirooki Goto & Hiroshi Tanahashi, by pinfall

The Fierce Warrior takes down the King of Bread, and he stares Nagata down. These two will battle this Saturday, March 15th, the Ides of March are upon them! But for now, Goto gets the mic, and he thanks the people of Amuro for coming out tonight. The fans cheer, and Goto is also very thankful that he finally gets to wear this world title belt. Goto proudly says that from here on, you can leave the new recruits of NJPW to him. The fans cheer and Tanahashi nods. Goto promises, his Goto Revolution has only just begun. So be ready to follow him until the end! The fans cheer and the music plays, but Goto has them all hold on a moment.

Goto wants everyone to understand, this was also Tanahashi’s last match here in Amagasaki. Therefore, it is only fitting that Tanahashi closes us out, if he’d please. Tanahashi takes the mic and the fans cheer him on. Tanahashi gladly shouts, “NJPW has returned to Amagasaki!” The fans cheer again, and some already say, “Aishitemasu! <I love you!>” Tanahashi promises he’ll say that, just wait a moment. Tanahashi says he was again nominated by their champion to speak, so he will say a few words. As many of them know, Tanahashi has about 10 more months on his career. So he intends to give it his all every day, so please support him until the end.

The fans cheer Tanahashi and he takes a moment to soak it all in. Tanahashi thanks them for that, and says in closing, for the last time here in Amagasaki, “AISHITEMAAASU~!” No air guitaring tonight, as Tanahashi instead goes out to the crowd to high-five fans. He is set for one last showdown with Kojima on March 20th, will The Ace trump the King of Bread one last time?

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My Thoughts:

A great second day for the New Japan Cup, but also an interesting change where the Cup doesn’t main event. Great tag team main event with Goto & Tanahashi getting a solid win over Kojima & Nagata. Kojima takes the loss to Goto so that there’s no real effect on the math for the match-ups here. Of course, I would think Goto wins against Nagata and Tanahashi wins against Kojima.

And then great stuff in the Cup matches. Oleg VS Fale was a fun, fast meat madness match, and great win for Oleg to move on and face Takagi next round for even more meat madness. ELP losing to Khan was a bit surprising, but I could see Khan coming back around to challenge for the NJPW World TV title after the Cup is over. Drilla VS Ishii was certainly the hardest hitting match of the night, and great win for Drilla. Naito VS Callum was also very good, but it was clear Naito was taking this one from all the damage he was doing to Callum’s leg. Naito VS Cobb next round will be some great stuff, too, and I can see it going either way.

My Score: 8.7/10